Mahela's amazing memory
Plays of the Day from the game between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils in Jaipur
Andrew Fidel Fernando
07-May-2013
A Rahul Dravid drive put Aleem Dar in danger • BCCI
The list
Having been virtually knocked out of contention for the playoffs in their last match, changes to Delhi Daredevils' XI were not unexpected, but the visitors changed more than half their team, leaving the captain Mahela Jayawardene with the difficult task of naming each one of them at the toss. It was not a job he shirked from though, as many captains are wont to do. When prompted by presenter Simon Doull, Jayawardene not only supplied the names of the players who came into the side, but those who were making way as well - 12 players in all. His recital earned immediate praise from Doull, and admiration from opposition captain Rahul Dravid, who applauded the effort.
Having been virtually knocked out of contention for the playoffs in their last match, changes to Delhi Daredevils' XI were not unexpected, but the visitors changed more than half their team, leaving the captain Mahela Jayawardene with the difficult task of naming each one of them at the toss. It was not a job he shirked from though, as many captains are wont to do. When prompted by presenter Simon Doull, Jayawardene not only supplied the names of the players who came into the side, but those who were making way as well - 12 players in all. His recital earned immediate praise from Doull, and admiration from opposition captain Rahul Dravid, who applauded the effort.
The dive
Though Sachin Baby's dive at short cover to dismiss David Warner was impressive for its anticipation, it was not a player who provided the most remarkable dive of the evening. Rahul Dravid produced a lofted drive of rare power in the sixth over, when he struck an overpitched delivery from Ajit Agarkar straight back at the bowler. Agarkar attempted to complete a catch, but could do nothing more than deflect the ball, still traveling quickly, towards umpire Aleem Dar. Quick as a snake, Dar spotted the incoming missile, and dropped low, turning his body away from the ball, and ended up on the turf as the ball whistled past, all the way to the boundary.
Though Sachin Baby's dive at short cover to dismiss David Warner was impressive for its anticipation, it was not a player who provided the most remarkable dive of the evening. Rahul Dravid produced a lofted drive of rare power in the sixth over, when he struck an overpitched delivery from Ajit Agarkar straight back at the bowler. Agarkar attempted to complete a catch, but could do nothing more than deflect the ball, still traveling quickly, towards umpire Aleem Dar. Quick as a snake, Dar spotted the incoming missile, and dropped low, turning his body away from the ball, and ended up on the turf as the ball whistled past, all the way to the boundary.
The slower ball
Sehwag has had only one good outing so far in the IPL, but when he struck two fours either side of the wicket in the second over, he may have hoped his lean trot was coming to an end. He was undone, however, by a slower ball - a good one, but the sort that he regularly blasts to the fence when in good form. Faulkner delivered his fourth ball out of the back of the hand, and Sehwag, being too quick on a heave across the leg side, as well as failing to account for the grip that the leg cutter achieved on the pitch, was beaten by a distance, and his off stump rattled.
Sehwag has had only one good outing so far in the IPL, but when he struck two fours either side of the wicket in the second over, he may have hoped his lean trot was coming to an end. He was undone, however, by a slower ball - a good one, but the sort that he regularly blasts to the fence when in good form. Faulkner delivered his fourth ball out of the back of the hand, and Sehwag, being too quick on a heave across the leg side, as well as failing to account for the grip that the leg cutter achieved on the pitch, was beaten by a distance, and his off stump rattled.
The drop
With a sub-par total on the board, Daredevils could afford few mistakes in the field, but when they did have the chance to arrest a forceful Royals start, they shelled the opportunity and allowed the opposition's openers to effectively make the game safe. Morne Morkel induced a thick edge from Ajinkya Rahane in the fifth over, but despite Pawan Negi having ample time to get under the chance, going back from cover, he could not get his hands around the ball, and ended up parrying it towards the ropes. Warner and Agarkar combined to save the boundary, but enough damage had already been done, and Rahane was a fixture at the crease until the winning run was hit.
With a sub-par total on the board, Daredevils could afford few mistakes in the field, but when they did have the chance to arrest a forceful Royals start, they shelled the opportunity and allowed the opposition's openers to effectively make the game safe. Morne Morkel induced a thick edge from Ajinkya Rahane in the fifth over, but despite Pawan Negi having ample time to get under the chance, going back from cover, he could not get his hands around the ball, and ended up parrying it towards the ropes. Warner and Agarkar combined to save the boundary, but enough damage had already been done, and Rahane was a fixture at the crease until the winning run was hit.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. He tweets here