Running wild, and an old man not at sea
Nagraj Gollapudi presents the Plays of the day from the ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval
Nagraj Gollapudi at the Adelaide Oval
19-Feb-2008
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Majestic
When Yuvraj Singh is in form, his placement is up there with best and when his confidence is high, it's a crime to pitch it up to him. Farveez Maharoof did just that and paid the price. Yuvraj waited for the ball to arrive, went down on his knees, and unleashed a cover drive that sent the ball racing to the fence, completing the shot with a classy follow through. Everything was perfect about the stroke.
When Yuvraj Singh is in form, his placement is up there with best and when his confidence is high, it's a crime to pitch it up to him. Farveez Maharoof did just that and paid the price. Yuvraj waited for the ball to arrive, went down on his knees, and unleashed a cover drive that sent the ball racing to the fence, completing the shot with a classy follow through. Everything was perfect about the stroke.
Spot on
And just when one thought that Yuvraj would ensure Kumar Sangakkara's century went in vain - as it eventually did - Chaminda Vaas, a smart assessor of a batsman's strengths and weaknesses, sent one straight through the huge gap that is created by Yuvraj's high backlift. Vaas landed the yorker at the right spot, knocking back Yuvraj's middle stump to end a glorious innings.
And just when one thought that Yuvraj would ensure Kumar Sangakkara's century went in vain - as it eventually did - Chaminda Vaas, a smart assessor of a batsman's strengths and weaknesses, sent one straight through the huge gap that is created by Yuvraj's high backlift. Vaas landed the yorker at the right spot, knocking back Yuvraj's middle stump to end a glorious innings.
Old man not at sea
Robin Uthappa hit the ball to the mid-off and set off for a single thinking, perhaps, that taking on the 38-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya wouldn't be much of a risk. Little did he know that the Sri Lankan warhorse still retains a youthful agility as Jayasuriya demonstrated with his sprint, pick-up and direct hit which found Uthappa marginally short of the crease.
Robin Uthappa hit the ball to the mid-off and set off for a single thinking, perhaps, that taking on the 38-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya wouldn't be much of a risk. Little did he know that the Sri Lankan warhorse still retains a youthful agility as Jayasuriya demonstrated with his sprint, pick-up and direct hit which found Uthappa marginally short of the crease.
Good ol' basics
Munaf Patel has faced a lot of criticism for his casual attitude while fielding, but he got his own back in the third over of the morning. Sangakkara punched a fullish delivery straight back; Munaf tried to field it in his follow through and the ball deflected off his fingers onto the stumps. It's arguable that a more agile player might have fielded the ball cleanly, but here Munaf's effort was just what India needed: Jayasuriya, who was holding the bat in the wrong hand, was well short of his crease and the batsman who had pummelled the Indian new-ball attack in their previous encounter was back in the hutch after facing just three deliveries.
Munaf Patel has faced a lot of criticism for his casual attitude while fielding, but he got his own back in the third over of the morning. Sangakkara punched a fullish delivery straight back; Munaf tried to field it in his follow through and the ball deflected off his fingers onto the stumps. It's arguable that a more agile player might have fielded the ball cleanly, but here Munaf's effort was just what India needed: Jayasuriya, who was holding the bat in the wrong hand, was well short of his crease and the batsman who had pummelled the Indian new-ball attack in their previous encounter was back in the hutch after facing just three deliveries.
Too high, mate
Praveen thought he got the breakthrough that had eluded the Indians for close to 30 overs. Coming round the wicket, his high full-toss startled Sangakkara, whose attempted pull landed in the hands of Uthappa at midwicket. Just as Praveen was about to celebrate his first ODI wicket, umpire Peter Parker rightly ruled the delivery a no-ball, deeming it to have been above waist high.
Praveen thought he got the breakthrough that had eluded the Indians for close to 30 overs. Coming round the wicket, his high full-toss startled Sangakkara, whose attempted pull landed in the hands of Uthappa at midwicket. Just as Praveen was about to celebrate his first ODI wicket, umpire Peter Parker rightly ruled the delivery a no-ball, deeming it to have been above waist high.
Too straight, mate
Sangakkara might rethink playing his straight drives. Earlier in the innings, his punch down the ground had accounted for Jayasuriya for a duck. Then just as Sri Lanka had taken the upper hand, Sangakkara's drive deflected off Praveen, the bowler, to the stumps and Jayawardene, who was stranded out of his crease, became the second batsman to perish to Sangakkara's accuracy.
Sangakkara might rethink playing his straight drives. Earlier in the innings, his punch down the ground had accounted for Jayasuriya for a duck. Then just as Sri Lanka had taken the upper hand, Sangakkara's drive deflected off Praveen, the bowler, to the stumps and Jayawardene, who was stranded out of his crease, became the second batsman to perish to Sangakkara's accuracy.
Running wild
As if two run-outs were not enough, Sri Lanka suffered another blow when a misunderstanding between Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera resulted in a third one. Rohit Sharma dived to his right at point, picked up the ball and threw in one motion towards the bowler's end and knocked off the bails. Sri Lanka were running themselves out and India were back in the game.
As if two run-outs were not enough, Sri Lanka suffered another blow when a misunderstanding between Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera resulted in a third one. Rohit Sharma dived to his right at point, picked up the ball and threw in one motion towards the bowler's end and knocked off the bails. Sri Lanka were running themselves out and India were back in the game.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo