When Harbhajan tried to console Rayudu
Plays of the day from the IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians, in Pune
Shashank Kishore
01-May-2016
Ambati Rayudu was upset with Harbhajan Singh's angry gestures towards him after a misfield • BCCI
Smith's stroke of luck
Steven Smith coming off a century in the previous match, against Gujarat Lions, showed urgency straightaway. An angled-bat slash off his second ball took the inside edge and flew to Parthiv Patel, who couldn't get his gloves underneath the ball as it raced to the fine leg boundary off the deflection. The sequence of events off the next ball was similar, except this time the ball flew to Parthiv's left into the fine-leg boundary. After two streaky fours, Smith brought out a more authentic version of the stroke he had intended earlier by going into his crease and slashing the short ball behind point to make it three fours in a row.
Steven Smith coming off a century in the previous match, against Gujarat Lions, showed urgency straightaway. An angled-bat slash off his second ball took the inside edge and flew to Parthiv Patel, who couldn't get his gloves underneath the ball as it raced to the fine leg boundary off the deflection. The sequence of events off the next ball was similar, except this time the ball flew to Parthiv's left into the fine-leg boundary. After two streaky fours, Smith brought out a more authentic version of the stroke he had intended earlier by going into his crease and slashing the short ball behind point to make it three fours in a row.
Bumrah makes a mess
Saurabh Tiwary presented Mumbai Indians an opportunity to hit back almost immediately. In the over that followed the three Steven Smith boundaries, Tiwary was hustled for pace as he mistimed a pull to mid-on. Jasprit Bumrah, who only had to time his jump properly, stuttered for a second before jumping backwards. A second's indecision meant his balance had gone haywire. The ball ricocheted off his palm, but he couldn't get to the rebound either.
Saurabh Tiwary presented Mumbai Indians an opportunity to hit back almost immediately. In the over that followed the three Steven Smith boundaries, Tiwary was hustled for pace as he mistimed a pull to mid-on. Jasprit Bumrah, who only had to time his jump properly, stuttered for a second before jumping backwards. A second's indecision meant his balance had gone haywire. The ball ricocheted off his palm, but he couldn't get to the rebound either.
Bumrah makes a mess again
There was another shocker from Bumrah, almost immediately after the dropped chance, just when you thought the evening couldn't get worse for him. Steven Smith pulled Mitchell McClenaghan towards mid-on where Bumrah charged in a little too much, but couldn't quite bend down to stop the ball. A chase resulted as he quickly had to dash back 40 yards towards the boundary to slide the ball back in. What should have been a dot ball resulted in three runs.
There was another shocker from Bumrah, almost immediately after the dropped chance, just when you thought the evening couldn't get worse for him. Steven Smith pulled Mitchell McClenaghan towards mid-on where Bumrah charged in a little too much, but couldn't quite bend down to stop the ball. A chase resulted as he quickly had to dash back 40 yards towards the boundary to slide the ball back in. What should have been a dot ball resulted in three runs.
The Harbhajan-Rayudu drama
Saurabh Tiwary fetched a pull from outside off into the gap between deep midwicket and long-on. Ambati Rayudu ran in from cow corner, while Tim Southee was sprinting around the ropes from long-on. But Rayudu's swimming-pool dive to scoop the ball towards Southee resulted in a boundary. Harbhajan, seemingly annoyed with the effort yelled at Rayudu, who was having none of it and yelled back. Both players then brisk-walked towards each other before Harbhajan put his arms around Rayudu to comfort him. Rayudu, still seething, snubbed the gesture and walked back. They made peace later in the innings.
Saurabh Tiwary fetched a pull from outside off into the gap between deep midwicket and long-on. Ambati Rayudu ran in from cow corner, while Tim Southee was sprinting around the ropes from long-on. But Rayudu's swimming-pool dive to scoop the ball towards Southee resulted in a boundary. Harbhajan, seemingly annoyed with the effort yelled at Rayudu, who was having none of it and yelled back. Both players then brisk-walked towards each other before Harbhajan put his arms around Rayudu to comfort him. Rayudu, still seething, snubbed the gesture and walked back. They made peace later in the innings.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo