The first ODI hat-trick of 2016, and the sitter that sat
Plays of the day from the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia in Colombo
Andrew Fidel Fernando and Brydon Coverdale
24-Aug-2016
James Faulkner became the sixth Australian bowler to take a hat-trick in ODIs • AFP
The hat-trick
Bruce Reid, Anthony Stuart, Brett Lee, Daniel Christian, Clint McKay, James Faulkner. That is the list of Australians to have taken an ODI hat-trick, six names in total after Faulkner joined the group in this match. And he did so across two overs, his wickets coming from the last ball of the 46th over and the first two deliveries of the 48th over. First was Kusal Perera, who was lbw trying to reverse-sweep a cutter. Then it was Angelo Mathews, who drilled one down the ground and was caught just inside the boundary by Moises Henriques. And finally Thisara Perera was bowled while backing away and trying to cut. Three ODI hat-tricks were taken last year, but this was the first for 2016.
Bruce Reid, Anthony Stuart, Brett Lee, Daniel Christian, Clint McKay, James Faulkner. That is the list of Australians to have taken an ODI hat-trick, six names in total after Faulkner joined the group in this match. And he did so across two overs, his wickets coming from the last ball of the 46th over and the first two deliveries of the 48th over. First was Kusal Perera, who was lbw trying to reverse-sweep a cutter. Then it was Angelo Mathews, who drilled one down the ground and was caught just inside the boundary by Moises Henriques. And finally Thisara Perera was bowled while backing away and trying to cut. Three ODI hat-tricks were taken last year, but this was the first for 2016.
The sitter
It was the sittingest sitter that ever sat. In the 42nd over of Sri Lanka's innings, Kusal Perera got a top edge off Moises Henriques that lobbed up and straight down into the hands of Adam Zampa at short third man. And then down further, out of the hands of Adam Zampa at short third man and onto the ground. It was such an easy chance that it was genuinely baffling that Zampa had managed to drop it. Perhaps, having finished his own 10 overs and claimed 3 for 42 earlier, his concentration had waned. It was a costly enough miss - Perera was on 29 and went on to make 54.
It was the sittingest sitter that ever sat. In the 42nd over of Sri Lanka's innings, Kusal Perera got a top edge off Moises Henriques that lobbed up and straight down into the hands of Adam Zampa at short third man. And then down further, out of the hands of Adam Zampa at short third man and onto the ground. It was such an easy chance that it was genuinely baffling that Zampa had managed to drop it. Perhaps, having finished his own 10 overs and claimed 3 for 42 earlier, his concentration had waned. It was a costly enough miss - Perera was on 29 and went on to make 54.
The long walk home
Dinesh Chandimal is a batsman who puts store in personal milestones. He celebrates his own with abandon, and his team-mates' with even more abandon. So when he was out on 48, going for a Sri Lankan record of six fifties in a row, his reaction was endearingly predictable. Chandimal dropped his shoulders. Chandimal dropped his head. Dragging his feet and the bat behind him, he trudged sullenly through the outfield, like a man who had been roughed up and robbed at the bus halt, and was left with no option but to begin walking home - a brass band playing a sombre tune in the background.
Dinesh Chandimal is a batsman who puts store in personal milestones. He celebrates his own with abandon, and his team-mates' with even more abandon. So when he was out on 48, going for a Sri Lankan record of six fifties in a row, his reaction was endearingly predictable. Chandimal dropped his shoulders. Chandimal dropped his head. Dragging his feet and the bat behind him, he trudged sullenly through the outfield, like a man who had been roughed up and robbed at the bus halt, and was left with no option but to begin walking home - a brass band playing a sombre tune in the background.
The opener
Nathan Lyon did not play in the first ODI but was rapidly into the action in this second match. After Mitchell Starc delivered the first over of the game, Lyon sent down the second and immediately gained some noticeable turn. For some teams it is nothing out of the ordinary to open with a spinner in an ODI, but it is a rarity for Australia. In fact, only once before have Australia used the tactic in the first innings of an ODI - when Mark Waugh shared the new ball against South Africa at the SCG on Australia Day, 1998.
Nathan Lyon did not play in the first ODI but was rapidly into the action in this second match. After Mitchell Starc delivered the first over of the game, Lyon sent down the second and immediately gained some noticeable turn. For some teams it is nothing out of the ordinary to open with a spinner in an ODI, but it is a rarity for Australia. In fact, only once before have Australia used the tactic in the first innings of an ODI - when Mark Waugh shared the new ball against South Africa at the SCG on Australia Day, 1998.