Sammy the heartbreaker
Plays of the day for the second day of the second Test between India and West Indies in Mumbai
N Hunter
15-Nov-2013
The heartbreaker
Darren Sammy had promised he would break the hearts of Sachin Tendulkar's fans at the beginning of this series. Today he honoured that word. For the second time in Mumbai, Sammy held onto a brilliant catch of Tendulkar on his home ground when the batsman was in sight of a century. During the 2011-12 tour, when Tendulkar was six runs short of his hundredth international century, Sammy took a blinder at the first slip off Ravi Rampaul. Today it was Narsingh Deonarine, who entered history books as the bowler who would get Tendulkar out for probably the last time in his career. As Tendulkar tried to cut Deonarine, the ball jumped on him and Sammy intercepted take a spectacular catch in front of his face, silencing the Wankhede for the second time.
Darren Sammy had promised he would break the hearts of Sachin Tendulkar's fans at the beginning of this series. Today he honoured that word. For the second time in Mumbai, Sammy held onto a brilliant catch of Tendulkar on his home ground when the batsman was in sight of a century. During the 2011-12 tour, when Tendulkar was six runs short of his hundredth international century, Sammy took a blinder at the first slip off Ravi Rampaul. Today it was Narsingh Deonarine, who entered history books as the bowler who would get Tendulkar out for probably the last time in his career. As Tendulkar tried to cut Deonarine, the ball jumped on him and Sammy intercepted take a spectacular catch in front of his face, silencing the Wankhede for the second time.
The mistake
Shane Shillingford was getting good bounce and getting the ball to fly off batsmen's edges. In the previous over, he had been unlucky when Kieran Powell failed to latch onto a low chance to his right as the ball came to him at boot-lace height. Shillingford was disappointed and annoyed. In his following over he delivered a perfect off break that pitched on off. However the bounce off the pitch forced an edge off Cheteshwar Pujara's bat which Powell at forward short leg dived forward to hold onto. Shillingford angrily thumped his foot a couple of times onto the ground and celebrated what he thought was a deserving wicket. Pujara did not move. Nigel Llong and the Richard Kettleborough, the on-field umpires, could not decide and passed the decision to the TV umpire Vineet Kulkarni. Replays from all angles clearly indicated Powell had got his fingers well under the ball. Kulkarni thought it was not conclusive. Pujara was 76 and ended up making his fifth Test century.
Shane Shillingford was getting good bounce and getting the ball to fly off batsmen's edges. In the previous over, he had been unlucky when Kieran Powell failed to latch onto a low chance to his right as the ball came to him at boot-lace height. Shillingford was disappointed and annoyed. In his following over he delivered a perfect off break that pitched on off. However the bounce off the pitch forced an edge off Cheteshwar Pujara's bat which Powell at forward short leg dived forward to hold onto. Shillingford angrily thumped his foot a couple of times onto the ground and celebrated what he thought was a deserving wicket. Pujara did not move. Nigel Llong and the Richard Kettleborough, the on-field umpires, could not decide and passed the decision to the TV umpire Vineet Kulkarni. Replays from all angles clearly indicated Powell had got his fingers well under the ball. Kulkarni thought it was not conclusive. Pujara was 76 and ended up making his fifth Test century.
The bunny
Tino Best 2. MS Dhoni 0. For the second time this series, the West Indies fast bowler got the better of the Indian captain with relative ease. Sammy made a smart move to bring Best on as soon as Dhoni walked in. In Kolkata it was the brilliant seam movement that had induced an edge off Dhoni. Best used the same trick to defeat his opponent. His first ball to Dhoni was on the off stump and moving away. Dhoni attempted to play at it, but was squared up. Next ball: similar length, on the fourth stump and again moving away. This time Dhoni went for the shot and the outside edge went straight to Sammy at second slip. As Dhoni walked swiftly back, Best kissed his collar and then started the pile driver with four punches to the ground with his right hand.
Tino Best 2. MS Dhoni 0. For the second time this series, the West Indies fast bowler got the better of the Indian captain with relative ease. Sammy made a smart move to bring Best on as soon as Dhoni walked in. In Kolkata it was the brilliant seam movement that had induced an edge off Dhoni. Best used the same trick to defeat his opponent. His first ball to Dhoni was on the off stump and moving away. Dhoni attempted to play at it, but was squared up. Next ball: similar length, on the fourth stump and again moving away. This time Dhoni went for the shot and the outside edge went straight to Sammy at second slip. As Dhoni walked swiftly back, Best kissed his collar and then started the pile driver with four punches to the ground with his right hand.
The enquiry
Shannon Gabriel got his first wicket of the series when R Ashwin mistimed a pull and the top edge was gladly accepted by the bowler. As he rushed to his team-mates to celebrate the wicket, umpire Kettleborough signaled to the third umpire to check the no ball. Replays showed Gabriel's foot was well inside the popping crease. When Sammy enquired of the umpires if it was necessary to go upstairs, Llong indicated that it was not possible for his partner to see clearly as he was blinded by the sun.
Shannon Gabriel got his first wicket of the series when R Ashwin mistimed a pull and the top edge was gladly accepted by the bowler. As he rushed to his team-mates to celebrate the wicket, umpire Kettleborough signaled to the third umpire to check the no ball. Replays showed Gabriel's foot was well inside the popping crease. When Sammy enquired of the umpires if it was necessary to go upstairs, Llong indicated that it was not possible for his partner to see clearly as he was blinded by the sun.
The assumption
In the end Llong redeemed some pride for the umpires when he rightly asked Kulkarni to check whether Shillingford had bowled a no ball even as the West Indies celebrated the final Indian wicket of Rohit Sharma, whose slog was taken by Deonarine at deep midwicket. Even as Llong was talking to the third umpire, Sammy and the rest of the West Indies players were trudging back towards the dressing room. Someone had even knocked out the bails at the Pavilion End where Rohit was batting. When the verdict came, Kettleborough lodged the bails back as Rohit took fresh guard. The West Indies players returned to their positions with disbelief and frustration.
In the end Llong redeemed some pride for the umpires when he rightly asked Kulkarni to check whether Shillingford had bowled a no ball even as the West Indies celebrated the final Indian wicket of Rohit Sharma, whose slog was taken by Deonarine at deep midwicket. Even as Llong was talking to the third umpire, Sammy and the rest of the West Indies players were trudging back towards the dressing room. Someone had even knocked out the bails at the Pavilion End where Rohit was batting. When the verdict came, Kettleborough lodged the bails back as Rohit took fresh guard. The West Indies players returned to their positions with disbelief and frustration.