The lost ball and the none no-ball
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from an action-packed one-day international
Alan Gardner at Kia Oval
12-Jun-2015
Brendon McCullum found his touch early on and launched one six out of the ground • PA Photos
The lost ball
Brendon McCullum was not quite as frenetic in the early exchanges as we have come to expect, even defending a delivery in Chris Jordan's first over. He soon settled in to his work, however, launching a succession of boundaries in the sixth; the first was pulled off a length over mid-on, the second smeared flat to third man for six. The third disappeared off the bat like a baseball home run - and disappeared was the word, as the ball bounced on the concrete of the Peter May stand, out of the ground and away down Clayton Street. A souvenir for a lucky passerby.
Brendon McCullum was not quite as frenetic in the early exchanges as we have come to expect, even defending a delivery in Chris Jordan's first over. He soon settled in to his work, however, launching a succession of boundaries in the sixth; the first was pulled off a length over mid-on, the second smeared flat to third man for six. The third disappeared off the bat like a baseball home run - and disappeared was the word, as the ball bounced on the concrete of the Peter May stand, out of the ground and away down Clayton Street. A souvenir for a lucky passerby.
The helmet half-chance
That barrage came from the first three balls of Jordan's third over and McCullum made it four consecutive boundaries - though there was a touch of fortune about the last one. Or, perhaps more accurately, a clunk of fortune, as a top-edged pull flew off the helmet and cleared slip. Ben Stokes, standing at second slip, made a move forward, thinking the ball would balloon up, only for it to keep going at a rate of knots and leaving him grasping thin air.
That barrage came from the first three balls of Jordan's third over and McCullum made it four consecutive boundaries - though there was a touch of fortune about the last one. Or, perhaps more accurately, a clunk of fortune, as a top-edged pull flew off the helmet and cleared slip. Ben Stokes, standing at second slip, made a move forward, thinking the ball would balloon up, only for it to keep going at a rate of knots and leaving him grasping thin air.
The not no-ball
Kane Williamson was moving serenely towards what would have been his seventh ODI hundred - and first against England - when he was rudely interrupted by a Stokes full toss. Williamson swatted at it and the ball came high off the bat and looped to mid-on but, while Stokes celebrated, umpire Tim Robinson was signalling for a no-ball. England had to use a review to get the decision looked at and Bruce Oxenford did not dwell long on his decision, deciding that the delivery was not above waist height and Williamson would have to go.
Kane Williamson was moving serenely towards what would have been his seventh ODI hundred - and first against England - when he was rudely interrupted by a Stokes full toss. Williamson swatted at it and the ball came high off the bat and looped to mid-on but, while Stokes celebrated, umpire Tim Robinson was signalling for a no-ball. England had to use a review to get the decision looked at and Bruce Oxenford did not dwell long on his decision, deciding that the delivery was not above waist height and Williamson would have to go.
The doffed cap
Late in the innings, with New Zealand closing on 400, Ross Taylor drove the ball firmly but not unstoppably towards Eoin Morgan at mid-off, where a fumble allowed the batsmen to get back for a second. The next delivery was hit in exactly the same direction and this time Morgan got his long barrier working to stop it cleanly. A boozy cheer went up around the ground and Morgan responded by raising his cap in polite acknowledgement.
Late in the innings, with New Zealand closing on 400, Ross Taylor drove the ball firmly but not unstoppably towards Eoin Morgan at mid-off, where a fumble allowed the batsmen to get back for a second. The next delivery was hit in exactly the same direction and this time Morgan got his long barrier working to stop it cleanly. A boozy cheer went up around the ground and Morgan responded by raising his cap in polite acknowledgement.
The drop
England had made an encouraging start through Jason Roy and Alex Hales but it should have been stalled from the last ball of the third over. Tim Southee got a delivery to straighten on Roy as he played with an angled bat and an outside edge flew towards Nathan McCullum at second slip. The ball burst through his upturned hands, however, and despite a flailing hand juggling the ball once, he was unable to grab it at the third opportunity as he fell on to his back and contorted his arm around in vain.
England had made an encouraging start through Jason Roy and Alex Hales but it should have been stalled from the last ball of the third over. Tim Southee got a delivery to straighten on Roy as he played with an angled bat and an outside edge flew towards Nathan McCullum at second slip. The ball burst through his upturned hands, however, and despite a flailing hand juggling the ball once, he was unable to grab it at the third opportunity as he fell on to his back and contorted his arm around in vain.
The closest call
Roy was almost out again shortly after the Powerplay finished but this time it was his own athleticism that saved him. Having squeezed the ball out towards deep midwicket off Nathan McCullum, he took on Mitchell Santner's arm and looked to be about to lose as a pinpoint throw came in to the keeper. In the fractions of a second it took Luke Ronchi to pouch the ball and break the bails, though, Roy leapt in an arc to bring his bat down over the line to safety by the frame.
Roy was almost out again shortly after the Powerplay finished but this time it was his own athleticism that saved him. Having squeezed the ball out towards deep midwicket off Nathan McCullum, he took on Mitchell Santner's arm and looked to be about to lose as a pinpoint throw came in to the keeper. In the fractions of a second it took Luke Ronchi to pouch the ball and break the bails, though, Roy leapt in an arc to bring his bat down over the line to safety by the frame.
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick