Drenched in sixes
And in the rain, which doesn't seem to leave this T20 fan alone
Ashwin Dias
23-Sep-2012
Chris Gayle aka the ticket-seller • ICC/Getty
Choice of game
There were two reasons I picked this game. One was Chris Gayle, the other Shane Watson. With all the Sri Lankan group stage matches in Hambantota, this seemed the best match in Colombo, and I just about managed to get tickets for it.
There were two reasons I picked this game. One was Chris Gayle, the other Shane Watson. With all the Sri Lankan group stage matches in Hambantota, this seemed the best match in Colombo, and I just about managed to get tickets for it.
Team supported
Deep down I was rooting for West Indies, but what I really wanted to see were some big sixes.
Deep down I was rooting for West Indies, but what I really wanted to see were some big sixes.
Key performer
Dave Warner. Gayle, Samuels and Watson were good but Warner changed the game in the second over by murdering Ravi Rampaul. He dispatched him to all areas of the ground and got the Aussie chase off to a flyer.
Dave Warner. Gayle, Samuels and Watson were good but Warner changed the game in the second over by murdering Ravi Rampaul. He dispatched him to all areas of the ground and got the Aussie chase off to a flyer.
One thing I'd have changed
The rain! This match maintained my sorry record of rai interrupting every single match I attend. I'm not sure whether it was the south-west monsoon or the inter-monsoonal rains that hit us, but it came out of nowhere and drenched us. Other than that, the queue for beer was way too long.
The rain! This match maintained my sorry record of rai interrupting every single match I attend. I'm not sure whether it was the south-west monsoon or the inter-monsoonal rains that hit us, but it came out of nowhere and drenched us. Other than that, the queue for beer was way too long.
Face-off I relished
Watson v Gayle and Narine v Australia was always going to be interesting. Watson won both, dismissing Gayle after a dropping him - one that was highly appreciated by all at the ground - and then thumping Narine over cow corner off a free-hit. He's in some form.
Watson v Gayle and Narine v Australia was always going to be interesting. Watson won both, dismissing Gayle after a dropping him - one that was highly appreciated by all at the ground - and then thumping Narine over cow corner off a free-hit. He's in some form.
Wow moment
It was expected that things would get a bit crazy in the last over of the West Indies innings but no one expected Darren Sammy to hit that monster six. It went miles up in the air and just kept going and going before finally coming down near the sightscreen.
It was expected that things would get a bit crazy in the last over of the West Indies innings but no one expected Darren Sammy to hit that monster six. It went miles up in the air and just kept going and going before finally coming down near the sightscreen.
Close encounter
Dwayne Smith was fielding below us and there was much groaning and grumbling from the West Indies supporters when he managed to palm a catch off Watson over the ropes.
Dwayne Smith was fielding below us and there was much groaning and grumbling from the West Indies supporters when he managed to palm a catch off Watson over the ropes.
Shot of the day
Gayle hammered Glenn Maxwell over midwicket off the back foot for a massive six. It seemed impossible that he could get that much power, and for a while I actually thought it'd reach the upper tier.
Gayle hammered Glenn Maxwell over midwicket off the back foot for a massive six. It seemed impossible that he could get that much power, and for a while I actually thought it'd reach the upper tier.
Crowd meter
There were a lot of empty seats in the lower tiers but the crowd was really noisy whenever a top batsman was at the crease. Kieron Pollard got the biggest cheer when he walked in, but Gayle, Samuels, Watson and Warner all enjoyed the adulation of the crowd as well. One of the more disturbing sights of the night was a rather obese man, with the most ridiculous head gear you'll ever see, dancing bare-bodied to the band behind him.
There were a lot of empty seats in the lower tiers but the crowd was really noisy whenever a top batsman was at the crease. Kieron Pollard got the biggest cheer when he walked in, but Gayle, Samuels, Watson and Warner all enjoyed the adulation of the crowd as well. One of the more disturbing sights of the night was a rather obese man, with the most ridiculous head gear you'll ever see, dancing bare-bodied to the band behind him.
Entertainment
I don't know if it happens everywhere or if the DJ was being particularly cheeky by spinning Queen's hit "Under Pressure" when Johnson Charles failed to connect with five Pat Cummins deliveries. He played it again after five Warner hit five of Rampaul's deliveries for plenty.
I don't know if it happens everywhere or if the DJ was being particularly cheeky by spinning Queen's hit "Under Pressure" when Johnson Charles failed to connect with five Pat Cummins deliveries. He played it again after five Warner hit five of Rampaul's deliveries for plenty.
ODI v Twenty20
I'm definitely more for T20s than ODIs. I've haven't seen as many big hits in the all ODIs I've gone for.
I'm definitely more for T20s than ODIs. I've haven't seen as many big hits in the all ODIs I've gone for.
Overall
The rain ruined what could have been a thrilling finish. Having said that, I still had heaps of fun and I doubt anyone has seen as many sixes in 19 overs at the Premadasa. So no regrets whatsoever.
The rain ruined what could have been a thrilling finish. Having said that, I still had heaps of fun and I doubt anyone has seen as many sixes in 19 overs at the Premadasa. So no regrets whatsoever.
Marks out of 10
7.5. Which, coincidentally, also happens to be the percentage of the match that was completed (when rounded off).
7.5. Which, coincidentally, also happens to be the percentage of the match that was completed (when rounded off).
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