Dhoni blocks for four
ESPNcricinfo presents Plays of the Day for the match between India and Sri Lanka in Adelaide
Sidharth Monga at the Adelaide Oval
14-Feb-2012
Gautam Gambhir was out in the 90s, again • Getty Images
The run-out
Angelo Mathews got a full toss in the 47th over. He missed it and for some reason even he might struggle to come up with, he went off for a run with the ball in MS Dhoni's hands. Dhoni flicked the ball back onto the stumps for one of the more bizarre run-outs seen in international cricket.
Angelo Mathews got a full toss in the 47th over. He missed it and for some reason even he might struggle to come up with, he went off for a run with the ball in MS Dhoni's hands. Dhoni flicked the ball back onto the stumps for one of the more bizarre run-outs seen in international cricket.
The bowling change
Throughout the summer Michael Clarke has been making bowling changes with immediate dividends. Today MS Dhoni stole some of that touch. In the 37th over, with Sri Lanka looking good for a score of over 270, Dhoni brought back Vinay Kumar. With his second delivery, Vinay removed Mahela Jayawardene with one that stayed a touch low. A collapse ensued, and Sri Lanka went from 3 for 173 to 9 for 236.
Throughout the summer Michael Clarke has been making bowling changes with immediate dividends. Today MS Dhoni stole some of that touch. In the 37th over, with Sri Lanka looking good for a score of over 270, Dhoni brought back Vinay Kumar. With his second delivery, Vinay removed Mahela Jayawardene with one that stayed a touch low. A collapse ensued, and Sri Lanka went from 3 for 173 to 9 for 236.
The glance
In the 28th over of the India innings, Lasith Malinga bowled a full ball on Suresh Raina's pad. Raina glanced it fine, a little too fine. It went off the face of the bat, a regulation catch for Kumar Sangakkara. Raina looked down at the pitch, up at the umpire, and then had to walk off.
In the 28th over of the India innings, Lasith Malinga bowled a full ball on Suresh Raina's pad. Raina glanced it fine, a little too fine. It went off the face of the bat, a regulation catch for Kumar Sangakkara. Raina looked down at the pitch, up at the umpire, and then had to walk off.
The block
Dhoni was new to the crease when he got a full ball outside off from Malinga. He blocked it defensively. A combination of the pace on the ball and the accidental sweet timing took it screaming away for a four through cover, all along the ground.
Dhoni was new to the crease when he got a full ball outside off from Malinga. He blocked it defensively. A combination of the pace on the ball and the accidental sweet timing took it screaming away for a four through cover, all along the ground.
The run-out II
It is impossible not to look at the background. In the previous match, Gautam Gambhir scored 92, and India made heavy weather of the rest of the chase. Today, Gambhir and Dhoni came together again with the chase a few overs from being a done thing. Then, with Gambhir on 91, Dhoni called him for a quick single to mid-off, and with Gambhir well on his way, turned him back. Gambhir missed another century.
It is impossible not to look at the background. In the previous match, Gautam Gambhir scored 92, and India made heavy weather of the rest of the chase. Today, Gambhir and Dhoni came together again with the chase a few overs from being a done thing. Then, with Gambhir on 91, Dhoni called him for a quick single to mid-off, and with Gambhir well on his way, turned him back. Gambhir missed another century.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo