The umpire with quick reflexes
Plays of the day from the Group A match between Scotland and Bangladesh in Nelson
Devashish Fuloria in Nelson
05-Mar-2015
Mahmudullah had his toe crushed, and then he was bowled • AFP
The statement
Matt Machan had spent considerable time the previous day practicing his slog sweeps and lofted shots in preparation for Bangladesh's spinners. He also practiced using his feet a few times but missed one completely. One would have thought he would be more careful using his feet on match day, but Machan's first scoring shot against spin was a sign of his confidence - or possibly his nerves - as he stepped out to Mahmudullah and effortlessly lofted one over long-on.
Matt Machan had spent considerable time the previous day practicing his slog sweeps and lofted shots in preparation for Bangladesh's spinners. He also practiced using his feet a few times but missed one completely. One would have thought he would be more careful using his feet on match day, but Machan's first scoring shot against spin was a sign of his confidence - or possibly his nerves - as he stepped out to Mahmudullah and effortlessly lofted one over long-on.
The 55th
Birthdays after a certain age, much like an old car, are reminders for an annual service. It's time to check if all functions are in order. There was a birthday boy at the ground today and he got a chance to test himself. As Kyle Coetzer pulled Mahmudullah in the 13th over the square-leg umpire Bruce Oxenford, who turned 55, barely had any time to evade injury. The ball was heading straight for his head, but he dived to his left, landed on his shoulder, fixed his sunglasses and raised his thumb to signal all was well. He hopped and skipped to the other side two balls later to further show that age was just a number to him.
Birthdays after a certain age, much like an old car, are reminders for an annual service. It's time to check if all functions are in order. There was a birthday boy at the ground today and he got a chance to test himself. As Kyle Coetzer pulled Mahmudullah in the 13th over the square-leg umpire Bruce Oxenford, who turned 55, barely had any time to evade injury. The ball was heading straight for his head, but he dived to his left, landed on his shoulder, fixed his sunglasses and raised his thumb to signal all was well. He hopped and skipped to the other side two balls later to further show that age was just a number to him.
The gate
While Oxenford was sprightly, Taskin Ahmed, 36 years younger than the umpire, showed the agility of an octogenarian. The 19-year-old fast bowler had spent 11 overs after his four-over spell manning the dead posts around third man and fine leg, but as Coetzer's outside edge rolled towards him at third man, Taskin got behind the ball, but couldn't get his hands low enough. Much to the annoyance of his captain Mashrafe Mortaza, the ball rolled between his legs and to the boundary.
While Oxenford was sprightly, Taskin Ahmed, 36 years younger than the umpire, showed the agility of an octogenarian. The 19-year-old fast bowler had spent 11 overs after his four-over spell manning the dead posts around third man and fine leg, but as Coetzer's outside edge rolled towards him at third man, Taskin got behind the ball, but couldn't get his hands low enough. Much to the annoyance of his captain Mashrafe Mortaza, the ball rolled between his legs and to the boundary.
The own goal
Richie Berrington had smashed two huge sixes, no bowler making an impression on him, before he suffered a blow from his own. Matthew Cross swiped a length delivery from Taskin so hard that Berrington had hardly any time to get out of the way at the non-striker's end. The ball smacked him on the left wrist and he dropped his bat in pain. Meanwhile, all Cross was interested in was a single. Berrington recovered composure to complete the run, with Cross bringing his bat to him. Berrington, however, lost his momentum after the injury, getting a thick top-edge the very next ball. More points for Oxenford.
Richie Berrington had smashed two huge sixes, no bowler making an impression on him, before he suffered a blow from his own. Matthew Cross swiped a length delivery from Taskin so hard that Berrington had hardly any time to get out of the way at the non-striker's end. The ball smacked him on the left wrist and he dropped his bat in pain. Meanwhile, all Cross was interested in was a single. Berrington recovered composure to complete the run, with Cross bringing his bat to him. Berrington, however, lost his momentum after the injury, getting a thick top-edge the very next ball. More points for Oxenford.
The toe-crusher
On pitches like these, the onus of getting a wicket seldom sits with bowlers. It's mostly either batsmen throwing it away or a freak dismissal. The previous game in Nelson had a hit-wicket dismissal and today, Mahmudullah's toe was in focus. The batsman was making room to drive, but the bowler Iain Wardlaw followed him with a yorker that was sliding down leg. Mahmudullah's bat missed it, but his back leg somehow got in the way. It hit him on the full before deflecting on the stumps, leaving him with the pain of both an injured toe and of missing what looked like a century for the taking.
Devashish Fuloria is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo