The crowd catch, and the players' drops
Plays of the Day from the Group A World Cup 2015 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, in Christchurch
Andrew McGlashan and Andrew Fernando
14-Feb-2015
The best catch of the day came on the other side of the boundary rope • Getty Images
The start
After all the build-up, all the anticipation and all the hype, Brendon McCullum could have been forgiven for giving himself a moment when he faced up for his first delivery of the World Cup. But that isn't McCullum's way. Instead, he planted his front foot down the pitch and drove through the line of a friendly wide delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara, sending it in the air over cover to give the chilly Hagley Oval crowd an immediate chance to warm their hands.
After all the build-up, all the anticipation and all the hype, Brendon McCullum could have been forgiven for giving himself a moment when he faced up for his first delivery of the World Cup. But that isn't McCullum's way. Instead, he planted his front foot down the pitch and drove through the line of a friendly wide delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara, sending it in the air over cover to give the chilly Hagley Oval crowd an immediate chance to warm their hands.
The double whammy
Jeevan Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne have been the most contentious selections in the Sri Lanka squad, but the pair combined to give Sri Lanka their brightest moments of the first innings, in the 34th over. Kane Williamson had been had been lifting bowlers beautifully over the outfield in the second half of his knock, but when he attempted to do so again off Mendis, Karunaratne tore around the outfield from long-on, and dived to his right, to take the catch inches from the turf. Ross Taylor then ran down the pitch at Mendis next ball, and though Sangakkara did not collect cleanly, he managed to break the stumps split seconds before Taylor grounded his boot again.
Jeevan Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne have been the most contentious selections in the Sri Lanka squad, but the pair combined to give Sri Lanka their brightest moments of the first innings, in the 34th over. Kane Williamson had been had been lifting bowlers beautifully over the outfield in the second half of his knock, but when he attempted to do so again off Mendis, Karunaratne tore around the outfield from long-on, and dived to his right, to take the catch inches from the turf. Ross Taylor then ran down the pitch at Mendis next ball, and though Sangakkara did not collect cleanly, he managed to break the stumps split seconds before Taylor grounded his boot again.
The crowd catch
With all due respect to Karunaratne, though, the best catch of the day came on the other side of the boundary rope. When Williamson used his feet and lofted Nuwan Kulasekara over long-off, a fan in the crowd, Sunjay Ganda, grabbed on one-handed. And more than just a moment of instance fame, he is now in the frame to win a huge sum of money courtesy of a sponsor's promotion during the World Cup. Anyone wearing the correct sponsor-branded t-shirt who catches a six one-handed stands a chance. At the moment, the prize pool stands at NZ$250,000 but it increases with each stage New Zealand reach and should they win the final NZ$1million is up for grabs - literally.
With all due respect to Karunaratne, though, the best catch of the day came on the other side of the boundary rope. When Williamson used his feet and lofted Nuwan Kulasekara over long-off, a fan in the crowd, Sunjay Ganda, grabbed on one-handed. And more than just a moment of instance fame, he is now in the frame to win a huge sum of money courtesy of a sponsor's promotion during the World Cup. Anyone wearing the correct sponsor-branded t-shirt who catches a six one-handed stands a chance. At the moment, the prize pool stands at NZ$250,000 but it increases with each stage New Zealand reach and should they win the final NZ$1million is up for grabs - literally.
The phantom ball
Apart from Karunaratne's take, Sri Lanka's catching was comically woeful on Saturday, as it has been throughout their time in New Zealand. Mendis was the worst offender, when he grassed a high ball he'd seemingly been lining up forever. Corey Anderson top-edged a Suranga Lakmal full toss in the 46th over, and though Mendis never took his eyes off the ball, trailing after it from cover, he let the ball slip through his fingers like a ghost as it descended. To make things worse, the ball would then hit Mendis near the groin, and dribble out toward the boundary to allow an extra run.
Apart from Karunaratne's take, Sri Lanka's catching was comically woeful on Saturday, as it has been throughout their time in New Zealand. Mendis was the worst offender, when he grassed a high ball he'd seemingly been lining up forever. Corey Anderson top-edged a Suranga Lakmal full toss in the 46th over, and though Mendis never took his eyes off the ball, trailing after it from cover, he let the ball slip through his fingers like a ghost as it descended. To make things worse, the ball would then hit Mendis near the groin, and dribble out toward the boundary to allow an extra run.
The pace
Adam Milne is New Zealand's fastest bowler since Shane Bond. It was an attacking decision to prefer him in this side to Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan. Fast bowlers bring a sense of anticipation and you could almost see eyes focus more intently on the game when he took the ball. His first delivery climbed at Tillakaratne Dilshan to take the shoulder of his bat and the second was clocked at 149.1kph. Keep an eye on the various charts produced of fastest deliveries of this tournament. Milne will be up there.
Adam Milne is New Zealand's fastest bowler since Shane Bond. It was an attacking decision to prefer him in this side to Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan. Fast bowlers bring a sense of anticipation and you could almost see eyes focus more intently on the game when he took the ball. His first delivery climbed at Tillakaratne Dilshan to take the shoulder of his bat and the second was clocked at 149.1kph. Keep an eye on the various charts produced of fastest deliveries of this tournament. Milne will be up there.
The bunny
Daniel Vettori and Mahela Jayawardene are two of a select band of 1990s international cricketers still plying their trade. They have become well acquainted over the years and it's a head-to-head in which Vettori fares well. When he found Jayawardene's outside edge, it was the sixth time he had removed him ODIs - moving into joint second-place among his most prolific scalps. Vettori's celebrations are fairly muted these days, but after the work he has put in to be fit for this tournament he must have felt immense satisfaction at winning the battle.
Daniel Vettori and Mahela Jayawardene are two of a select band of 1990s international cricketers still plying their trade. They have become well acquainted over the years and it's a head-to-head in which Vettori fares well. When he found Jayawardene's outside edge, it was the sixth time he had removed him ODIs - moving into joint second-place among his most prolific scalps. Vettori's celebrations are fairly muted these days, but after the work he has put in to be fit for this tournament he must have felt immense satisfaction at winning the battle.
Andrew McGlashan is a senior assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando