Of seers and an elusive big hit
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in Kolkata
Firdose Moonda
07-May-2011
Chennai must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when S Badrinath got them their first boundary in the 10th over • AFP
The boundary that almost never came
It took 60 balls to come, but when it did, it came in fine fashion. S Badrinath had showed some intent earlier in Yusuf Pathan's over, when he charged down the track and swung hard, without achieving the desired effect though. Three balls later, he made some room for himself and hit the ball flat over long-on. For a few seconds, it looked as though Jaidev Unadkat would catch it, but the ball sailed just over into the sightscreen for six.
It took 60 balls to come, but when it did, it came in fine fashion. S Badrinath had showed some intent earlier in Yusuf Pathan's over, when he charged down the track and swung hard, without achieving the desired effect though. Three balls later, he made some room for himself and hit the ball flat over long-on. For a few seconds, it looked as though Jaidev Unadkat would catch it, but the ball sailed just over into the sightscreen for six.
The one that got away - twice
Albie Morkel had already been dropped by Brett Lee on the deep midwicket boundary, when the fast bowler let the ball bobble out of his hands, but Morkel wasn't done taunting him. Lee was about to bowl his last over, having bowled three beautiful ones earlier in the innings. Morkel's mandate was to stand and deliver, and Lee's was to bowl full and a touch wide of offstump to prevent that. Morkel swung hard at the third ball of the over, there was a sound as ball went past bat and Mark Boucher immediately threw it up in celebration on pouching it. Lee was late on the appeal though, Morkel glanced guiltily behind him and Asad Rauf remained unmoved.
Albie Morkel had already been dropped by Brett Lee on the deep midwicket boundary, when the fast bowler let the ball bobble out of his hands, but Morkel wasn't done taunting him. Lee was about to bowl his last over, having bowled three beautiful ones earlier in the innings. Morkel's mandate was to stand and deliver, and Lee's was to bowl full and a touch wide of offstump to prevent that. Morkel swung hard at the third ball of the over, there was a sound as ball went past bat and Mark Boucher immediately threw it up in celebration on pouching it. Lee was late on the appeal though, Morkel glanced guiltily behind him and Asad Rauf remained unmoved.
The accurate predictors
Stephen Fleming was asked in a field-side interview in the previous match Chennai played in, against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, what score he would like them to chase. He said 148, and 148 was the target. This time, Scott Styris was asked for a score prediction. After telling the field reporter that he hadn't heard the end of it from Fleming after he got it right, Styris threw out the number 114. And, as luck would have it, 114 is what Chennai got. Guess who will be gloating for the next few days?
Stephen Fleming was asked in a field-side interview in the previous match Chennai played in, against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, what score he would like them to chase. He said 148, and 148 was the target. This time, Scott Styris was asked for a score prediction. After telling the field reporter that he hadn't heard the end of it from Fleming after he got it right, Styris threw out the number 114. And, as luck would have it, 114 is what Chennai got. Guess who will be gloating for the next few days?
The swirling catch
Gautam Gambhir tried something fancy against R Ashwin, and ended up slicing the ball, sending it high into the Kolkata sky. Doing revolutions that Ashwin himself would have been proud of, the skier approached the vacant cover area. All that swirling didn't undo Suraj Randiv though. He ran to his left from point, dived full stretch and held on to a remarkable catch.
Gautam Gambhir tried something fancy against R Ashwin, and ended up slicing the ball, sending it high into the Kolkata sky. Doing revolutions that Ashwin himself would have been proud of, the skier approached the vacant cover area. All that swirling didn't undo Suraj Randiv though. He ran to his left from point, dived full stretch and held on to a remarkable catch.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent