Bodi's struggle, the short-run call
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Lions v Mumbai Indians at Wanderers
Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers
14-Oct-2012
Kieron Pollard couldn't dig out this yorker from Sohail Tanvir • Associated Press
Struggle of the day
Gulam Bodi could not get a handle of the conditions or the bowling and saw off a maiden over from Lasith Malinga, but the real embodiment of his inability to score quickly was in evidence against spin. Bodi tried to score off Harbhajan Singh, but played out two dot balls. He was eventually caught at first-slip off the third.
Gulam Bodi could not get a handle of the conditions or the bowling and saw off a maiden over from Lasith Malinga, but the real embodiment of his inability to score quickly was in evidence against spin. Bodi tried to score off Harbhajan Singh, but played out two dot balls. He was eventually caught at first-slip off the third.
Celebration of the day
The Lions controlled themselves in their dug out as Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock brought the required run rate down to a run a ball and then further down. They were on their feet when McKenzie scored four boundaries off Harbhajan Singh's last over and started to approach the boundary when he hit Mitchell Johnson for two more. By the time he pulled Lasith Malinga to deep square leg for a single, they could hold back no longer. Chris Morris bounded onto the field an expression of relief and ecstasy on his face and the rest soon followed.
The Lions controlled themselves in their dug out as Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock brought the required run rate down to a run a ball and then further down. They were on their feet when McKenzie scored four boundaries off Harbhajan Singh's last over and started to approach the boundary when he hit Mitchell Johnson for two more. By the time he pulled Lasith Malinga to deep square leg for a single, they could hold back no longer. Chris Morris bounded onto the field an expression of relief and ecstasy on his face and the rest soon followed.
Measurement of the day - I
One of cricket's lesser-spotted umpiring signals is the one that punishes batsmen for not making their ground before embarking on another run: the one-short sign. It does not often come out in twenty-over cricket, after all this is the format of boundaries, but it made an appearance today. Sachin Tendulkar had guided the ball down to third man and run two but one run had to be deducted. There was some irony in one short being called against Tendulkar, one of the shortest players in the game.
One of cricket's lesser-spotted umpiring signals is the one that punishes batsmen for not making their ground before embarking on another run: the one-short sign. It does not often come out in twenty-over cricket, after all this is the format of boundaries, but it made an appearance today. Sachin Tendulkar had guided the ball down to third man and run two but one run had to be deducted. There was some irony in one short being called against Tendulkar, one of the shortest players in the game.
Pain of the day
Sometimes there is a shot that hurts just by listening to it. Kieron Pollard's second four, off Zander de Bruyn, was one of those. Pollard clobbered the ball back past de Bruyn with such force that it reached the boundary almost as quickly as de Bruyn was on his knees having slipped in his attempt to save it. He went down dejected, perhaps more by the thumping thud of the ball on the bat than the result of the stroke.
Sometimes there is a shot that hurts just by listening to it. Kieron Pollard's second four, off Zander de Bruyn, was one of those. Pollard clobbered the ball back past de Bruyn with such force that it reached the boundary almost as quickly as de Bruyn was on his knees having slipped in his attempt to save it. He went down dejected, perhaps more by the thumping thud of the ball on the bat than the result of the stroke.
Measurement of the day - II
Sohail Tanvir yorked Pollard with a ball so accurate it may as well have had a bullseye attached to it. The Lions were celebrating when Pollard was told to stop his walk of shame and wait for the umpires to check for the no-ball. Tanvir was well behind the crease and there was no danger of a front-foot no ball but his back foot was dangerously close to touching the return crease. The footage was rechecked to ensure Tanvir had not made a dreadful error. He hadn't and Pollard was soon on his way off.
Sohail Tanvir yorked Pollard with a ball so accurate it may as well have had a bullseye attached to it. The Lions were celebrating when Pollard was told to stop his walk of shame and wait for the umpires to check for the no-ball. Tanvir was well behind the crease and there was no danger of a front-foot no ball but his back foot was dangerously close to touching the return crease. The footage was rechecked to ensure Tanvir had not made a dreadful error. He hadn't and Pollard was soon on his way off.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent