Where's the ball, ump?
Plays of the Day from the Champions League Group B match between Brisbane Heat and Titans
Mohammad Isam
24-Sep-2013
File photo: Bruce Oxenford forgot where the ball was • AFP
The absentminded umpire
After Matthew Gale took the first wicket for Brisbane Heat - Jacques Rudolph caught by Chris Sabburg at point - the ball, inexplicably, went missing. Normally the catcher hands the ball to the umpire, but it seemed as though Sabburg had simply thrown it away. Television replays didn't quite focus on the fielder, so the umpire Bruce Oxenford handed Gale a different ball. As Gale readied himself to bowl, Oxenford suddenly felt a lump inside the cap in his hand: it was the original ball. He had simply forgotten all about it in the commotion.
After Matthew Gale took the first wicket for Brisbane Heat - Jacques Rudolph caught by Chris Sabburg at point - the ball, inexplicably, went missing. Normally the catcher hands the ball to the umpire, but it seemed as though Sabburg had simply thrown it away. Television replays didn't quite focus on the fielder, so the umpire Bruce Oxenford handed Gale a different ball. As Gale readied himself to bowl, Oxenford suddenly felt a lump inside the cap in his hand: it was the original ball. He had simply forgotten all about it in the commotion.
The finisher
On his Twenty20 debut, Gale picked up four wickets, and three in the space of four deliveries. He had bowled two tight overs at the start of the Titans innings, picking up a wicket, but his third over turned out to be more successful. He removed Farhan Behardien and Morne Morkel off consecutive deliveries, before Rowan Richards skied one to give him his fourth. If Heat were worried about losing fast bowler Kemar Roach, Gale allayed that in 17 balls.
On his Twenty20 debut, Gale picked up four wickets, and three in the space of four deliveries. He had bowled two tight overs at the start of the Titans innings, picking up a wicket, but his third over turned out to be more successful. He removed Farhan Behardien and Morne Morkel off consecutive deliveries, before Rowan Richards skied one to give him his fourth. If Heat were worried about losing fast bowler Kemar Roach, Gale allayed that in 17 balls.
The spark
Heat were on the back foot during the second-wicket partnership between Henry Davids and Heino Kuhn, but slowly they inched back into the game. After Kuhn fell in the 10th over, Davids ran for a single that was definitely not on. Despite the wide throw to bowler Nathan Hauritz, Davids was well short of the crease. It was the start of a batting collapse during which Titans lost seven wickets in the next 8.1 overs.
Heat were on the back foot during the second-wicket partnership between Henry Davids and Heino Kuhn, but slowly they inched back into the game. After Kuhn fell in the 10th over, Davids ran for a single that was definitely not on. Despite the wide throw to bowler Nathan Hauritz, Davids was well short of the crease. It was the start of a batting collapse during which Titans lost seven wickets in the next 8.1 overs.
The late reaction
Marchant de Lange was wayward in Titans' first match against Chennai Super Kings, so he had a point to prove. He started at brisk pace and hit a length that made the Heat top order duck for cover, making light work of Ben Cutting in the process. After an attempt to ramp one past the wicketkeeper went awry, Cutting decided to slog, or something close to it, the next ball. The shot went horribly wrong, especially because the bowler delivered at 89mph. The ball hit the splice of the bat, and spooned in the air to be easily caught at cover.
Marchant de Lange was wayward in Titans' first match against Chennai Super Kings, so he had a point to prove. He started at brisk pace and hit a length that made the Heat top order duck for cover, making light work of Ben Cutting in the process. After an attempt to ramp one past the wicketkeeper went awry, Cutting decided to slog, or something close to it, the next ball. The shot went horribly wrong, especially because the bowler delivered at 89mph. The ball hit the splice of the bat, and spooned in the air to be easily caught at cover.
The flying kiss
Roelof van der Merwe's celebrations are often fiery, and this time he blew a kiss at the departing batsman. James Hopes had just survived a stumping chance off van der Merwe and he attempted to hit the next ball over long-off. He found AB de Villiers instead, prompting the bowler to turn around and give him a send-off.
Roelof van der Merwe's celebrations are often fiery, and this time he blew a kiss at the departing batsman. James Hopes had just survived a stumping chance off van der Merwe and he attempted to hit the next ball over long-off. He found AB de Villiers instead, prompting the bowler to turn around and give him a send-off.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here