Acrobatic Gilchrist and apologetic Sreesanth
Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Kings XI Punjab in Indore
Firdose Moonda
13-May-2011
Gilchrist: Still working hard behind the stumps • AFP
The IPL's new host
Indore's Holkar Stadium is the latest venue to join the IPL parade and it had a sizeable crowd for its first match. Audiences have had many chants this IPL, most prominent being the one whenever the Mumbai Indians are playing, "Sachin, Sachiiiiiiin." The crowd here used the same beat but belted out, "Indore, Indoooooore," instead, a sign of how thrilled they were that cricket had come to town. They didn't have any songs for the home team who must have felt like foreigners there, as most of the support was directed at Punjab.
Indore's Holkar Stadium is the latest venue to join the IPL parade and it had a sizeable crowd for its first match. Audiences have had many chants this IPL, most prominent being the one whenever the Mumbai Indians are playing, "Sachin, Sachiiiiiiin." The crowd here used the same beat but belted out, "Indore, Indoooooore," instead, a sign of how thrilled they were that cricket had come to town. They didn't have any songs for the home team who must have felt like foreigners there, as most of the support was directed at Punjab.
The wide that turned Gilchrist into an acrobat
Which one, you might ask. Given that Punjab sent down nine and Kochi five, it's a fair question. There was one that was more eye-catching than the others, in the same way a particularly large pimple is worth staring at. It was the second wide of the match, bowled by Ryan Harris, which was splayed so far down leg, it would have been wide even if there was a second set of stumps. The soon-to-be-40 Adam Gilchrist dived full stretch to his left, almost ended up horizontal and caught the ball one-handed, saving four runs. He was tested a few more times in the innings, but none as challenging as that one.
Which one, you might ask. Given that Punjab sent down nine and Kochi five, it's a fair question. There was one that was more eye-catching than the others, in the same way a particularly large pimple is worth staring at. It was the second wide of the match, bowled by Ryan Harris, which was splayed so far down leg, it would have been wide even if there was a second set of stumps. The soon-to-be-40 Adam Gilchrist dived full stretch to his left, almost ended up horizontal and caught the ball one-handed, saving four runs. He was tested a few more times in the innings, but none as challenging as that one.
The noise that ran Owais out
The Indore crowd were having a loud blast. They were making such a din that Owais Shah gestured that he was run out because of it. He was presented with a slower ball from Shalabh Srivastava and got it to long-off who saw the batsmen attempting the second run and threw to the wicketkeeper's end. It wasn't clear whether either of the batsmen had called for the second or whether they had said no and went ahead with it because they saw their partner coming. Both were emphatic in making gestures that they couldn't hear but it made no difference, Owais had to go.
The Indore crowd were having a loud blast. They were making such a din that Owais Shah gestured that he was run out because of it. He was presented with a slower ball from Shalabh Srivastava and got it to long-off who saw the batsmen attempting the second run and threw to the wicketkeeper's end. It wasn't clear whether either of the batsmen had called for the second or whether they had said no and went ahead with it because they saw their partner coming. Both were emphatic in making gestures that they couldn't hear but it made no difference, Owais had to go.
The apologetic appeal
It's not often that a bowler says sorry for appealing against a batsman but it happened. Sreesanth started his spell with a ball that shaped into Gilchrist which the Punjab captain worked away on the leg side. Sreesanth thought the ball had hit the pad first and appealed for lbw, before realising that Gilchrist had managed to get the bat in front. After stifling his appeal, Sreesanth apologised to Gilchrist as he ran through to complete the single.
It's not often that a bowler says sorry for appealing against a batsman but it happened. Sreesanth started his spell with a ball that shaped into Gilchrist which the Punjab captain worked away on the leg side. Sreesanth thought the ball had hit the pad first and appealed for lbw, before realising that Gilchrist had managed to get the bat in front. After stifling his appeal, Sreesanth apologised to Gilchrist as he ran through to complete the single.
The tag team fielding that flopped
Brendon McCullum was prowling the outfield like a demon and made some outstanding stops. When Dinesh Karthik crunched the ball through the covers, McCullum flew across from sweeper cover to cut off a four. He slid along the ground and shovelled the ball away from the rope but needed someone to pick it up. Sreesanth ran through from long off to clean up, fell over trying to get the ball and in his haste to scoop it up took himself, and the ball, over the line. McCullum's effort was in vain.
Brendon McCullum was prowling the outfield like a demon and made some outstanding stops. When Dinesh Karthik crunched the ball through the covers, McCullum flew across from sweeper cover to cut off a four. He slid along the ground and shovelled the ball away from the rope but needed someone to pick it up. Sreesanth ran through from long off to clean up, fell over trying to get the ball and in his haste to scoop it up took himself, and the ball, over the line. McCullum's effort was in vain.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent