Not a lucky day for Tharanga or Malinga
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the World Cup, Group A match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Mumbai
Nagraj Gollapudi at the Wankhede Stadium
18-Mar-2011
Nuwan Kulasekara walks back sheepishly after knocking a catch over the boundary for six • Getty Images
Non-starter of the day
There are many awkward ways of getting out, but nothing is more frustrating for a batsman than to get run out after the bowler deflects a straight drive onto the stumps. Tillkaratne Dilshan punched a half-volley from Tim Southee straight back. The ball bounced a yard in front of Southee who was still finishing his follow-through, but managed to stretch his right hand to slightly divert the path of the ball, which eventually went on to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. Upul Tharanga, who had walked forward some four yards, was forced to only walk back, head down.
There are many awkward ways of getting out, but nothing is more frustrating for a batsman than to get run out after the bowler deflects a straight drive onto the stumps. Tillkaratne Dilshan punched a half-volley from Tim Southee straight back. The ball bounced a yard in front of Southee who was still finishing his follow-through, but managed to stretch his right hand to slightly divert the path of the ball, which eventually went on to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. Upul Tharanga, who had walked forward some four yards, was forced to only walk back, head down.
Wasted review of the day
Jayawardene was well aware it was a perfect reverse-swinging yorker form Southee. It was going nowhere except hitting his leg stump as it was pitched in line. Still he asked for a review, which only embarrassed him. It was a sheer waste of time, especially since he knew there was no inside edge.
Jayawardene was well aware it was a perfect reverse-swinging yorker form Southee. It was going nowhere except hitting his leg stump as it was pitched in line. Still he asked for a review, which only embarrassed him. It was a sheer waste of time, especially since he knew there was no inside edge.
The unluckiest man
In the end Lasith Malinga came up with a smile. It was a smile of disbelief. Two catches had been dropped in a space of four deliveries in his fourth over. Also smiling were Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor, the beneficiaries. Malinga sent a perfectly-pitched short delivery into Ryder's ribs, but he smartly played it off his hips, albeit in the air. It seemed to be going straight to Upul Tharanga at midwicket, but the fielder messed it up. Two balls later, Taylor slashed hard at another short delivery, pitched outside the line of off stump. He was too early into the shot, and it seemed an easy catch as the ball travelled towards Nuwan Kulasekara at third man. But Kulasekera committed the fatal error of moving forward. Just as he did that the ball rushed too fast onto him and he only managed to spike it over the ropes. A catch that should have been a single at most ended up being a six.
In the end Lasith Malinga came up with a smile. It was a smile of disbelief. Two catches had been dropped in a space of four deliveries in his fourth over. Also smiling were Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor, the beneficiaries. Malinga sent a perfectly-pitched short delivery into Ryder's ribs, but he smartly played it off his hips, albeit in the air. It seemed to be going straight to Upul Tharanga at midwicket, but the fielder messed it up. Two balls later, Taylor slashed hard at another short delivery, pitched outside the line of off stump. He was too early into the shot, and it seemed an easy catch as the ball travelled towards Nuwan Kulasekara at third man. But Kulasekera committed the fatal error of moving forward. Just as he did that the ball rushed too fast onto him and he only managed to spike it over the ropes. A catch that should have been a single at most ended up being a six.
The Murali moment
It was the duel between the two oldest players from both teams. Muttiah Muralitharan was in his element, having already managed to get rid of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor with his loopy offspinners. He had pulled his hamstring while running between the wickets but that did not stop him from jumping high in the air as soon as Scott Styris scooped a return catch to him. With both his legs in the air and the arms raised high to hold the catch, Murali resembled a spiker more than a cricketer. For sure he had spiked New Zealand's momentum.
It was the duel between the two oldest players from both teams. Muttiah Muralitharan was in his element, having already managed to get rid of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor with his loopy offspinners. He had pulled his hamstring while running between the wickets but that did not stop him from jumping high in the air as soon as Scott Styris scooped a return catch to him. With both his legs in the air and the arms raised high to hold the catch, Murali resembled a spiker more than a cricketer. For sure he had spiked New Zealand's momentum.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo