Shadow-boxing a stump, and an armpit catch
Plays of the day from the Group B game between South Africa and Ireland in Canberra
Firdose Moonda in Canberra
03-Mar-2015
KOB works on a KO • Getty Images
The nervous moment
Hashim Amla got a second life when he was on 10 and Ed Joyce spilt the catch Ireland will rue but soon after that drop, Faf du Plessis was let off as well. At the end of the 11th over, when momentum was starting to go South Africa's way, Paul Stirling produced a delivery with good drift but not a lot of turn and du Plessis went back to cut. Instead, he got a healthy edge which flew between the wicketkeeper and Kevin O'Brien at first slip, who had already taken a step forward as he saw du Plessis aiming for the cut. It was a tough chance but one that could have changed the course of the game if it had been taken.
Hashim Amla got a second life when he was on 10 and Ed Joyce spilt the catch Ireland will rue but soon after that drop, Faf du Plessis was let off as well. At the end of the 11th over, when momentum was starting to go South Africa's way, Paul Stirling produced a delivery with good drift but not a lot of turn and du Plessis went back to cut. Instead, he got a healthy edge which flew between the wicketkeeper and Kevin O'Brien at first slip, who had already taken a step forward as he saw du Plessis aiming for the cut. It was a tough chance but one that could have changed the course of the game if it had been taken.
The crowd catch
For all Hashim Amla's imperiousness, it was not until the 24th over that he scored the innings' first six but he made sure it was memorable. In uncharacteristically ugly fashion, Amla slogged a Max Sorenson length ball over wide-long on and into the solitary grass embankment where someone in a crowd of Irish fans caught in. They picked up the littlest member of the group, complete with wide leprechaun hat, and bounced him and down in celebration before realising they had to give the ball back.
For all Hashim Amla's imperiousness, it was not until the 24th over that he scored the innings' first six but he made sure it was memorable. In uncharacteristically ugly fashion, Amla slogged a Max Sorenson length ball over wide-long on and into the solitary grass embankment where someone in a crowd of Irish fans caught in. They picked up the littlest member of the group, complete with wide leprechaun hat, and bounced him and down in celebration before realising they had to give the ball back.
The punchy celebration
Ireland did not seem in much of a fighting mood when Amla and du Plessis were in full flow but against the run of play, Kevin O'Brien produced a yorker to take out du Plessis. He cut through the batsman's defences and then decided to take on the stumps, approaching them for a bit of shadow-boxing in one of the tournament's more unique celebrations.
Ireland did not seem in much of a fighting mood when Amla and du Plessis were in full flow but against the run of play, Kevin O'Brien produced a yorker to take out du Plessis. He cut through the batsman's defences and then decided to take on the stumps, approaching them for a bit of shadow-boxing in one of the tournament's more unique celebrations.
The walking wicket
Everybody knew Paul Stirling had nicked the ball when he was squared up by a Dale Steyn short ball in the third over. Everybody apart from Ranmore Martinesz. Steyn went up, Quinton de Kock went up, Stirling went away - yes, he had actually begun walking - but stopped when he saw Martinesz unmoved. South Africa stopped mid-celebration to call for the review. Replays showed a clear deflection and a large spike on Snickometer. As soon as Stirling saw that, he resumed his walk off the field and South Africa continued celebrating.
Everybody knew Paul Stirling had nicked the ball when he was squared up by a Dale Steyn short ball in the third over. Everybody apart from Ranmore Martinesz. Steyn went up, Quinton de Kock went up, Stirling went away - yes, he had actually begun walking - but stopped when he saw Martinesz unmoved. South Africa stopped mid-celebration to call for the review. Replays showed a clear deflection and a large spike on Snickometer. As soon as Stirling saw that, he resumed his walk off the field and South Africa continued celebrating.
The unusual relay catch
Just when Ireland may have started to forgive themselves for their missed chances and began trying to limit the damage in the reply, they were reminded of how they had cost themselves in the cruelest fashion. Niall O'Brien flashed at a wide Kyle Abbott delivery and Quinton de Kock dived across Amla at first slip to take the catch but moved too early. De Kock blocked Amla's view but the ball deflected off his glove into Amla's hand and then into his armpit.
Just when Ireland may have started to forgive themselves for their missed chances and began trying to limit the damage in the reply, they were reminded of how they had cost themselves in the cruelest fashion. Niall O'Brien flashed at a wide Kyle Abbott delivery and Quinton de Kock dived across Amla at first slip to take the catch but moved too early. De Kock blocked Amla's view but the ball deflected off his glove into Amla's hand and then into his armpit.
The golden arm
The idea of AB de Villiers turning his arm over is not quite as a much of a joke as it used to be. South Africa's ODI captain has bowled himself four times since September, after not bowling in ODIs for almost seven years, since a World XI game in 2007. And here's why. His Midas touch was on display as early as his second ball when he bowled a nothing delivery, short of a length, and John Mooney managed to drag it on. Record-breaking batting, eye-catching grabs and now... wickets too. Is there anything AB cannot do?
The idea of AB de Villiers turning his arm over is not quite as a much of a joke as it used to be. South Africa's ODI captain has bowled himself four times since September, after not bowling in ODIs for almost seven years, since a World XI game in 2007. And here's why. His Midas touch was on display as early as his second ball when he bowled a nothing delivery, short of a length, and John Mooney managed to drag it on. Record-breaking batting, eye-catching grabs and now... wickets too. Is there anything AB cannot do?
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent