Oram's touch and Jayasuriya's misses
S Rajesh presents the Plays of the day for the match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Wanderers
S Rajesh at the Wanderers
15-Sep-2007
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Jacob Oram is renowned for his ability to give the ball a mighty thump, but here he showed he could be subtle as well. Of the third ball he faced, and the last in Sanath Jayasuriya's spell, Oram conjured up a delicate reverse-sweep, merely tapping the ball lightly and helping it on its way to the third-man boundary. Soon, though, he was back at his furious best: when Lasith Malinga got an attempted yorker wrong and pitched it in the hitting zone, punishment was immediate - a huge straight hit, which bounced just in front of the sightscreen.
Fielding woes for Sanath
Sanath Jayasuriya had a great time with bat and ball, but in the field he had a rather forgettable day. Fielding at short fine leg, he reprieved Brendon McCullum in the second over, getting both hands to the ball but failing to latch on to a mistimed pull. That was nothing to the embarrassment he would have felt after the first ball of the 18th over, when Oram's slog gained more height than distance. Jayasuriya tried to get under the swirler, but was never in control, and eventually stumbled, fell and never even got a hand on the ball.
Sanath Jayasuriya had a great time with bat and ball, but in the field he had a rather forgettable day. Fielding at short fine leg, he reprieved Brendon McCullum in the second over, getting both hands to the ball but failing to latch on to a mistimed pull. That was nothing to the embarrassment he would have felt after the first ball of the 18th over, when Oram's slog gained more height than distance. Jayasuriya tried to get under the swirler, but was never in control, and eventually stumbled, fell and never even got a hand on the ball.
Bond dismantled
Shane Bond v Sanath Jayasuriya was always likely to be a key contest, and there's no doubt who took the honours there. Jayasuriya flayed two fours through the off side in the first over, and then cracked two more fours over mid-off and square leg in Bond's second over. Bond's figures took a further beating when Upul Tharanga joined in the fun and pulled a superb six over fine leg. And when he dropped a clanger from Jayasuriya soon after - cupping the ball in his hands and then spilling it - his misery was complete.
Shane Bond v Sanath Jayasuriya was always likely to be a key contest, and there's no doubt who took the honours there. Jayasuriya flayed two fours through the off side in the first over, and then cracked two more fours over mid-off and square leg in Bond's second over. Bond's figures took a further beating when Upul Tharanga joined in the fun and pulled a superb six over fine leg. And when he dropped a clanger from Jayasuriya soon after - cupping the ball in his hands and then spilling it - his misery was complete.
S Rajesh is stats editor of Cricinfo