Gayle walks and dives
Plays of the day from the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals in Bangalore
Abhishek Purohit
11-May-2014
The Gayle who walked • BCCI
Gayle's honesty
Chris Gayle was having a hard time against the legspinners Pravin Tambe and Rahul Tewatia. In the eighth over, he stepped out to a tossed up delivery from Tambe. It was the googly, kept very low and turned past Gayle, but he got back just in time. Gayle went outside off stump next ball, and Tambe bowled the googly wider. Gayle tried to cut, and thin-edged it to the wicketkeeper. The umpire Rod Tucker seemed to be about to signal a wide, but Gayle had already started walking, and the official raised his finger in confirmation.
Chris Gayle was having a hard time against the legspinners Pravin Tambe and Rahul Tewatia. In the eighth over, he stepped out to a tossed up delivery from Tambe. It was the googly, kept very low and turned past Gayle, but he got back just in time. Gayle went outside off stump next ball, and Tambe bowled the googly wider. Gayle tried to cut, and thin-edged it to the wicketkeeper. The umpire Rod Tucker seemed to be about to signal a wide, but Gayle had already started walking, and the official raised his finger in confirmation.
Gayle's dive
Gayle's hamstring has been bothering him for some time now. A bad shoulder could be added to that. In the fourth over of the chase, he dived at backward point to stop a drive from Ajinkya Rahane. Gayle diving is a rare event, and the Chinnaswamy crowd roared its appreciation as the big man sat on the ground with a smile. Soon, he was heading off the field with an ice-pack on his left shoulder. He had jammed his forearm hard into the ground when he landed, and his shoulder had felt the impact.
Gayle's hamstring has been bothering him for some time now. A bad shoulder could be added to that. In the fourth over of the chase, he dived at backward point to stop a drive from Ajinkya Rahane. Gayle diving is a rare event, and the Chinnaswamy crowd roared its appreciation as the big man sat on the ground with a smile. Soon, he was heading off the field with an ice-pack on his left shoulder. He had jammed his forearm hard into the ground when he landed, and his shoulder had felt the impact.
Kohli's failed promotion
Virat Kohli decided to come out of his comfort zone tonight. Not only did he choose to bat instead of his preference to chase, he also opened the innings, in place of his usual No 3 spot. He made his intent clear when he swung Kane Richardson to the deep square leg boundary for four in the first over. That was to be his only scoring shot in nine deliveries; he swung at Richardson again in the fast bowler's next over and the thick outside edge was taken at third man.
Virat Kohli decided to come out of his comfort zone tonight. Not only did he choose to bat instead of his preference to chase, he also opened the innings, in place of his usual No 3 spot. He made his intent clear when he swung Kane Richardson to the deep square leg boundary for four in the first over. That was to be his only scoring shot in nine deliveries; he swung at Richardson again in the fast bowler's next over and the thick outside edge was taken at third man.
Yuvraj's half-helicopter
Yuvraj Singh played some vintage strokes during his 83. There was the forcing sweep and the straight loft against the spinners, there was the pick-up over the leg side off the fast bowlers. What he did in the 19th over was Dhoni-like. Richardson bowled it around the boockhole, but Yuvraj arched back, and scooped the ball down the ground. Dhoni's followthrough is almost a circle, but Yuvraj held the pose about halfway through. The ball flew flat towards long-off, and kept gathering momentum. Stuart Binny was technically in with a chance, but the ball was way too quick for him.
Yuvraj Singh played some vintage strokes during his 83. There was the forcing sweep and the straight loft against the spinners, there was the pick-up over the leg side off the fast bowlers. What he did in the 19th over was Dhoni-like. Richardson bowled it around the boockhole, but Yuvraj arched back, and scooped the ball down the ground. Dhoni's followthrough is almost a circle, but Yuvraj held the pose about halfway through. The ball flew flat towards long-off, and kept gathering momentum. Stuart Binny was technically in with a chance, but the ball was way too quick for him.
Yuvraj's arm ball
It was Yuvraj's night alright. After blitzing his side to 190, he was brought on to bowl just after the Powerplay. In his second over, he angled one in to Shane Watson on a good length. The batsman went back to cut, but the ball did not turn. It hurried in instead, and uprooted Watson's leg stump. Yuvraj let out a triumphant roar.
It was Yuvraj's night alright. After blitzing his side to 190, he was brought on to bowl just after the Powerplay. In his second over, he angled one in to Shane Watson on a good length. The batsman went back to cut, but the ball did not turn. It hurried in instead, and uprooted Watson's leg stump. Yuvraj let out a triumphant roar.
Abhishek Purohit is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo