The towel that prevented a stumping
ESPNcricinfo picks the plays of the day from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders
Alagappan Muthu
02-May-2014
Umpire Nigel Llong's call of dead ball surprised Shakib Al Hasan and Gautam Gambhir • BCCI
The dead ball
It was India's first IPL match this season and the first six overs offered ample evidence of Ranchi's hospitality to spinners. A loopy delivery from Shakib Al Hasan almost had Dwayne Smith stumped in the third over, but the third umpire was not required because Nigel Llong was busy signaling dead ball. A confused Shakib and Gautam Gambhir rounded on the on-field umpire who informed them that the bowler's towel had slipped from his waist during his run-up. Shakib had to bear with his misfortune for two more balls before he had Smith leg before in the same over.
It was India's first IPL match this season and the first six overs offered ample evidence of Ranchi's hospitality to spinners. A loopy delivery from Shakib Al Hasan almost had Dwayne Smith stumped in the third over, but the third umpire was not required because Nigel Llong was busy signaling dead ball. A confused Shakib and Gautam Gambhir rounded on the on-field umpire who informed them that the bowler's towel had slipped from his waist during his run-up. Shakib had to bear with his misfortune for two more balls before he had Smith leg before in the same over.
The no ball
It is not often that Sunil Narine goes wicketless but this time he only had himself to blame. A lull towards the business end might have been capped by Ravindra Jadeja's wicket in the penultimate over of the Super Kings' innings. He had shuffled across to a good length ball to tuck around the corner, but underestimated Narine's turn into the bat and was found in front of leg stump. The batsman was making tracks towards the dugout when umpire Anil Chaudhary chose to check for the no-ball. And it was an uncharacteristically big one.
It is not often that Sunil Narine goes wicketless but this time he only had himself to blame. A lull towards the business end might have been capped by Ravindra Jadeja's wicket in the penultimate over of the Super Kings' innings. He had shuffled across to a good length ball to tuck around the corner, but underestimated Narine's turn into the bat and was found in front of leg stump. The batsman was making tracks towards the dugout when umpire Anil Chaudhary chose to check for the no-ball. And it was an uncharacteristically big one.
The debut
Andre Russell kept out Morne Morkel, Pat Cummins and Umesh Yadav - three bowlers who bowl at over 90mph - and so was tasked with bowling in the death. He has no mystery about him and his pace invites the long handle. He has the worst economy rate, at 9.91, in IPL on the condition of 140 balls bowled. Kolkata Knight Riders could have managed him better, but he was thrown in against MS Dhoni, who admittedly wasn't striking too well. It only took one ball to change that - a half-volley on off stump belted down the ground with stunning power. Halfway through his Kolkata debut, Russell had leaked 25 runs and had a lot to catch up on with the bat.
Andre Russell kept out Morne Morkel, Pat Cummins and Umesh Yadav - three bowlers who bowl at over 90mph - and so was tasked with bowling in the death. He has no mystery about him and his pace invites the long handle. He has the worst economy rate, at 9.91, in IPL on the condition of 140 balls bowled. Kolkata Knight Riders could have managed him better, but he was thrown in against MS Dhoni, who admittedly wasn't striking too well. It only took one ball to change that - a half-volley on off stump belted down the ground with stunning power. Halfway through his Kolkata debut, Russell had leaked 25 runs and had a lot to catch up on with the bat.
The fifty
Gautam Gambhir's torment this season gained another chapter and this time he wasn't even on strike. He had assumed an inside edge off Robin Uthappa had beaten the keeper and hared more than halfway down the pitch. The striker, fully aware that Dhoni had the nick under control, was busy getting back to his crease and yet Gambhir did not halt his charge. An underarm throw found Ben Hilfenhaus, the bowler, who even had time to run towards the stumps before an underarm flick clipped leg stump with Gambhir well short of his ground. At least the Knight Riders captain had pushed his tournament tally to fifty by then.
Gautam Gambhir's torment this season gained another chapter and this time he wasn't even on strike. He had assumed an inside edge off Robin Uthappa had beaten the keeper and hared more than halfway down the pitch. The striker, fully aware that Dhoni had the nick under control, was busy getting back to his crease and yet Gambhir did not halt his charge. An underarm throw found Ben Hilfenhaus, the bowler, who even had time to run towards the stumps before an underarm flick clipped leg stump with Gambhir well short of his ground. At least the Knight Riders captain had pushed his tournament tally to fifty by then.
The dismissal
R Ashwin has been a pest to run-scoring with his around-the-wicket line. He almost exclusively operates with the aim of cramping the batsman and in his first over today, he lost control of a carrom ball and lobbed it well outside leg stump. It would have been a wide, but Knight Riders were looking to attack and Jacques Kallis unleashed a powerful sweep. But he stared in horror as Mithun Manhas at deep backward square leg settled under and swallowed it. Super Kings could not believe their luck while Kallis' walk to the dressing room was punctuated by constant and disbelief-filled shakes of his head.
R Ashwin has been a pest to run-scoring with his around-the-wicket line. He almost exclusively operates with the aim of cramping the batsman and in his first over today, he lost control of a carrom ball and lobbed it well outside leg stump. It would have been a wide, but Knight Riders were looking to attack and Jacques Kallis unleashed a powerful sweep. But he stared in horror as Mithun Manhas at deep backward square leg settled under and swallowed it. Super Kings could not believe their luck while Kallis' walk to the dressing room was punctuated by constant and disbelief-filled shakes of his head.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo