Kanpur chants 'AB, AB'
Plays of the Day from the first ODI between India and South Africa in Kanpur
Firdose Moonda and Alagappan Muthu
11-Oct-2015
Quinton de Kock missed the chance to run out Rohit Sharma • AFP
Knowing the law
R Ashwin left the field during the 32nd over, which was his fourth, after appearing to hurt himself on the side while fielding off his own bowling. He returned at the start of the 39th over after 25 minutes and MS Dhoni hoped to use him immediately but the umpires intervened. A lengthy on-field discussion, accompanied by a conversation with the third umpire, resulted in Ashwin not being allowed to bowl until he had spent the same amount of time on the field as he had off it because his injury was internal.
R Ashwin left the field during the 32nd over, which was his fourth, after appearing to hurt himself on the side while fielding off his own bowling. He returned at the start of the 39th over after 25 minutes and MS Dhoni hoped to use him immediately but the umpires intervened. A lengthy on-field discussion, accompanied by a conversation with the third umpire, resulted in Ashwin not being allowed to bowl until he had spent the same amount of time on the field as he had off it because his injury was internal.
AB, AB
Few players are as loved by fans as AB de Villiers, as he showed when he had the Kanpur crowd cheering his name with a ball to face in the innings and two runs needed to get to his century. De Villiers had gallantly worked his way towards the hundred but Farhaan Behardien had the strike for four balls of the final over and de Villiers had missed the fifth. As he geared up for the final one, the chants rang out, "AB, AB..." and he swiped to send Umesh Yadav's delivery over long-on for six. It was ugly, but it was effective and the Kanpur crowd loved it, even though it would mean their team had conceded the highest total at the venue.
Few players are as loved by fans as AB de Villiers, as he showed when he had the Kanpur crowd cheering his name with a ball to face in the innings and two runs needed to get to his century. De Villiers had gallantly worked his way towards the hundred but Farhaan Behardien had the strike for four balls of the final over and de Villiers had missed the fifth. As he geared up for the final one, the chants rang out, "AB, AB..." and he swiped to send Umesh Yadav's delivery over long-on for six. It was ugly, but it was effective and the Kanpur crowd loved it, even though it would mean their team had conceded the highest total at the venue.
Whose cap it is anyway?
David Miller was on the long-on boundary. So were a group of ball boys, hungry for their 15 minutes of fame. One of them caught Miller's attention to rather fruitful results. For one, the ball boy got Miller to wear his cap, green like the South Africa uniform, for a few balls. Two, he got Miller to sign the cap.
David Miller was on the long-on boundary. So were a group of ball boys, hungry for their 15 minutes of fame. One of them caught Miller's attention to rather fruitful results. For one, the ball boy got Miller to wear his cap, green like the South Africa uniform, for a few balls. Two, he got Miller to sign the cap.
Drinks break
With temperatures at 38 degrees, no one could blame the players for needing a bit more water than usual but MS Dhoni seemed to be pushing it. He had been in the middle for the duration of two overs (about seven minutes) and faced five balls when he gestured to the change room that he was thirsty. When the water bottles came out, it seemed as though Dhoni was actually thinking of his partner, Rohit Sharma, who had been in the middle for almost three hours by then but he wasn't. Dhoni grabbed his bottle and gulped its contents down while Rohit ignored his until it was waved in front of him a third time.
With temperatures at 38 degrees, no one could blame the players for needing a bit more water than usual but MS Dhoni seemed to be pushing it. He had been in the middle for the duration of two overs (about seven minutes) and faced five balls when he gestured to the change room that he was thirsty. When the water bottles came out, it seemed as though Dhoni was actually thinking of his partner, Rohit Sharma, who had been in the middle for almost three hours by then but he wasn't. Dhoni grabbed his bottle and gulped its contents down while Rohit ignored his until it was waved in front of him a third time.
Missed opportunity
But that's not to say Rohit wasn't feeling the heat. Cramp crept up on him as his innings wore on but Dhoni needed him to be as fresh as he was when he started as the chase reached its climax. Dhoni dabbed the ball to point and called Rohit through for a run. Rohit began dragging himself through late while substitute Aaron Phangiso moved quickly to pick up and throw. In his haste and because Quinton de Kock had not come up to the stumps but moved in front of them, he sent the ball in the direction of short leg. De Kock got it but missed the underarm throw onto the stumps that would have seen Rohit well short.
But that's not to say Rohit wasn't feeling the heat. Cramp crept up on him as his innings wore on but Dhoni needed him to be as fresh as he was when he started as the chase reached its climax. Dhoni dabbed the ball to point and called Rohit through for a run. Rohit began dragging himself through late while substitute Aaron Phangiso moved quickly to pick up and throw. In his haste and because Quinton de Kock had not come up to the stumps but moved in front of them, he sent the ball in the direction of short leg. De Kock got it but missed the underarm throw onto the stumps that would have seen Rohit well short.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent