The 150 kph delivery
Plays of the Day from the match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Jaipur
George Binoy
08-Apr-2013
Shane Watson broke his bat while spooning a catch to cover • BCCI
The bat
Shane Watson, playing his first match of the season, was unhappy with his bat and changed it after missing a pull against Brett Lee in the first over. After mis-timing and missing a few more balls, Watson hit his first boundary with his new blade, launching Lee over extra cover with a powerful drive. He tried to repeat the shot next ball but made contact with the bottom of his bat and spooned a catch to short cover. He won't be using that bat again, for it had cracked on impact during the dismissal.
Shane Watson, playing his first match of the season, was unhappy with his bat and changed it after missing a pull against Brett Lee in the first over. After mis-timing and missing a few more balls, Watson hit his first boundary with his new blade, launching Lee over extra cover with a powerful drive. He tried to repeat the shot next ball but made contact with the bottom of his bat and spooned a catch to short cover. He won't be using that bat again, for it had cracked on impact during the dismissal.
The delay
They were everywhere at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Bugs. The problem was so severe the organisers had to fumigate the area with repellant, and some of those fumes made their way on to the ground, creating an unpleasant smelling mist-like effect. The umpires decided to stop play for a while in the 13th over, until the haze cleared.
They were everywhere at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Bugs. The problem was so severe the organisers had to fumigate the area with repellant, and some of those fumes made their way on to the ground, creating an unpleasant smelling mist-like effect. The umpires decided to stop play for a while in the 13th over, until the haze cleared.
The most expensive over
Sunil Narine had taken two wickets in his third over to pull Royals back. In his fourth, however, Narine went for 18 runs, the most he's ever conceded in an over in the IPL, and the second most he's ever gone for in his T20 career. Dishant Yagnik put the finishing touches on it, slog-sweeping a flat six before reverse-sweeping past short third man.
Sunil Narine had taken two wickets in his third over to pull Royals back. In his fourth, however, Narine went for 18 runs, the most he's ever conceded in an over in the IPL, and the second most he's ever gone for in his T20 career. Dishant Yagnik put the finishing touches on it, slog-sweeping a flat six before reverse-sweeping past short third man.
The speed
Shaun Tait, aka the wild thing, warmed up with a wide down leg side and then another outside off. But after he found his radar, he began to hurry batsmen with his speed. The last delivery of Tait's second over was the quickest of this IPL: it was measured at 150.1 kph. The ball pitched short of a length and angled across Gambhir, who wafted at it off the back foot and was beaten by sheer pace.
Shaun Tait, aka the wild thing, warmed up with a wide down leg side and then another outside off. But after he found his radar, he began to hurry batsmen with his speed. The last delivery of Tait's second over was the quickest of this IPL: it was measured at 150.1 kph. The ball pitched short of a length and angled across Gambhir, who wafted at it off the back foot and was beaten by sheer pace.
The catch
There have been some stupendous catches in this IPL season - Pollard against Super Kings, Rahane against Daredevils and Gurkeerat against Warriors. Dishant Yagnik's effort behind the stumps today, while not as visually spectacular, was exceptional for the technique he exhibited. Gautam Gambhir had charged down the pitch and slashed hard at a length delivery, the top edge sending the ball flat and fast towards Yagnik's left*. He moved nimbly, and then leapt full stretch to take the catch with both hands above his head. He stayed balanced as he landed and tumbled, ensuring the ball stayed caught.
There have been some stupendous catches in this IPL season - Pollard against Super Kings, Rahane against Daredevils and Gurkeerat against Warriors. Dishant Yagnik's effort behind the stumps today, while not as visually spectacular, was exceptional for the technique he exhibited. Gautam Gambhir had charged down the pitch and slashed hard at a length delivery, the top edge sending the ball flat and fast towards Yagnik's left*. He moved nimbly, and then leapt full stretch to take the catch with both hands above his head. He stayed balanced as he landed and tumbled, ensuring the ball stayed caught.
*05.00GMT, April 9: The article had previously said the ball went to Dishant Yagnik's right
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo