Baz stumbles a single
Plays of the Day from the fifth ODI between New Zealand and India, in Wellington
Abhishek Purohit in Wellington
31-Jan-2014
Varun Aaron earned the ire of the Indian captain after a dropped chance • Getty Images
The stumbled run
Brendon McCullum stretched so much forward to Ravindra Jadeja in the 43rd over that he lost balance. He tried to recover even as he hauled himself up to take the single, but stumbled again. The sequence repeated itself till half the run had been completed, by which time McCullum finally managed to regain composure and start running. Rohit Sharma had all the time in the world to steady himself from cover, but his throw was way off target.
Brendon McCullum stretched so much forward to Ravindra Jadeja in the 43rd over that he lost balance. He tried to recover even as he hauled himself up to take the single, but stumbled again. The sequence repeated itself till half the run had been completed, by which time McCullum finally managed to regain composure and start running. Rohit Sharma had all the time in the world to steady himself from cover, but his throw was way off target.
The shot I
Jesse Ryder was in ridiculous touch in the series, although that won't reflect with scores of 18, 20, 20, 19 and 17. But it did in the outrageous strokes he played. New Zealand had managed ten runs by the sixth over when out of nowhere, Ryder bent his back knee, and swung a Bhuvneshwar Kumar length ball high over midwicket for six.
Jesse Ryder was in ridiculous touch in the series, although that won't reflect with scores of 18, 20, 20, 19 and 17. But it did in the outrageous strokes he played. New Zealand had managed ten runs by the sixth over when out of nowhere, Ryder bent his back knee, and swung a Bhuvneshwar Kumar length ball high over midwicket for six.
The shot II
Kane Williamson's touch only kept improving through his innings, if that is possible for a man who's made five successive fifties. Fourth ball of the batting Powerplay, he stepped out to Mohammed Shami and lifted it solidly with a high followthrough, timing it so well that the ball soared over deep extra-cover.
Kane Williamson's touch only kept improving through his innings, if that is possible for a man who's made five successive fifties. Fourth ball of the batting Powerplay, he stepped out to Mohammed Shami and lifted it solidly with a high followthrough, timing it so well that the ball soared over deep extra-cover.
The drop I
In the tenth over, Martin Guptill pulled Bhuvneshwar straight to mid-on. Varun Aaron appeared to dive initially, then realised there was no need to. He tried steadying himself on one knee but it was too late by then, and he could not hold on. Aaron had to begin bowling from the next over, and as he made his way to the pitch, a disappointed MS Dhoni strode right past him, head down, making no attempt to say anything to his bowler at the start of his spell.
In the tenth over, Martin Guptill pulled Bhuvneshwar straight to mid-on. Varun Aaron appeared to dive initially, then realised there was no need to. He tried steadying himself on one knee but it was too late by then, and he could not hold on. Aaron had to begin bowling from the next over, and as he made his way to the pitch, a disappointed MS Dhoni strode right past him, head down, making no attempt to say anything to his bowler at the start of his spell.
The drop II
Dhoni swung Mitchell McClenaghan to mid-on in the 38th over of the chase. The ball was dying a bit on Brendon McCullum, who leaned forward and got both hands to it, only to put it down. Dhoni flat-batted the next ball past McCullum, who tried to make up somewhat for the drop with a spirited dash. The ball had almost touched the boundary when McCullum flung himself at it. He covered quite a distance, and pulled it back in the nick of time to save one run.
Dhoni swung Mitchell McClenaghan to mid-on in the 38th over of the chase. The ball was dying a bit on Brendon McCullum, who leaned forward and got both hands to it, only to put it down. Dhoni flat-batted the next ball past McCullum, who tried to make up somewhat for the drop with a spirited dash. The ball had almost touched the boundary when McCullum flung himself at it. He covered quite a distance, and pulled it back in the nick of time to save one run.
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo