The cashless catch
Plays of the Day from the second Twenty20 international between New Zealand and West Indies, in Wellington
George Binoy
15-Jan-2014
Jesse Ryder played a pick-up shot over the square-leg boundary • Getty Images
The wrong clothes
The batsmen hit plenty of sixes into the crowd but fans in orange t-shirts had been dropping one-handed catches in the stands all day. The prize for catching one of those balls was NZD 100,000. And then, off the last ball of the second over, Jesse Ryder launched Tino Best high and far over deep midwicket with a monstrous pull shot. A man got under it and caught it with his right hand without any fuss. He was wearing a jacket, though, and without the sponsors' orange tee he wasn't winning any money.
The batsmen hit plenty of sixes into the crowd but fans in orange t-shirts had been dropping one-handed catches in the stands all day. The prize for catching one of those balls was NZD 100,000. And then, off the last ball of the second over, Jesse Ryder launched Tino Best high and far over deep midwicket with a monstrous pull shot. A man got under it and caught it with his right hand without any fuss. He was wearing a jacket, though, and without the sponsors' orange tee he wasn't winning any money.
The turnaround
In the first T20 in Auckland, Andre Russell's first ball had disappeared over the long-leg boundary off Brendon McCullum's bat, and he went on to concede 23 in his only over. Today, however, Russell was up against Colin Munro and he got the batsmen to chip the ball to point to begin his spell with a wicket. His batting had improved vastly too: he'd bagged a second-ball duck at Eden Park but was unbeaten on 10 at the Westpac Stadium.
In the first T20 in Auckland, Andre Russell's first ball had disappeared over the long-leg boundary off Brendon McCullum's bat, and he went on to concede 23 in his only over. Today, however, Russell was up against Colin Munro and he got the batsmen to chip the ball to point to begin his spell with a wicket. His batting had improved vastly too: he'd bagged a second-ball duck at Eden Park but was unbeaten on 10 at the Westpac Stadium.
The sacrifice
Andre Fletcher and Denesh Ramdin had a busy partnership going when Fletcher drove to deep cover in the 18th over and set off for a run. He seemed content with one but Ramdin wasn't. He returned for the second, but with Fletcher unresponsive both batsmen were at the non-striker's end. Ramdin began to turn around but Fletcher held up his hand and walked out of the crease to sacrifice his wicket. Ramdin repaid the gesture by scoring 55 off 31 balls.
Andre Fletcher and Denesh Ramdin had a busy partnership going when Fletcher drove to deep cover in the 18th over and set off for a run. He seemed content with one but Ramdin wasn't. He returned for the second, but with Fletcher unresponsive both batsmen were at the non-striker's end. Ramdin began to turn around but Fletcher held up his hand and walked out of the crease to sacrifice his wicket. Ramdin repaid the gesture by scoring 55 off 31 balls.
The six and drop
It was the second delivery of New Zealand's chase and the first Jesse Ryder was facing, from the tall fast bowler Jason Holder. The ball pitched on a length around off and middle stump, Ryder moved his front foot across a touch, and with tremendous hand-eye coordination flicked the ball far over the square-leg boundary. It was an incredible shot and yet he played it off his first ball. The next delivery, however, Ryder drove tamely to cover where Johnson Charles caused Holder more anguish by dropping a sitter.
It was the second delivery of New Zealand's chase and the first Jesse Ryder was facing, from the tall fast bowler Jason Holder. The ball pitched on a length around off and middle stump, Ryder moved his front foot across a touch, and with tremendous hand-eye coordination flicked the ball far over the square-leg boundary. It was an incredible shot and yet he played it off his first ball. The next delivery, however, Ryder drove tamely to cover where Johnson Charles caused Holder more anguish by dropping a sitter.
The missed run-out
In the fifth over, with five fielders in the circle on the off side, Ross Taylor pushed towards cover and ran. Brendon McCullum rightly sent him back, and though Taylor stopped and turned quickly, he was in danger. Walton had got to the ball quickly and collected cleanly. He had plenty of time to line up the stumps but his throw missed. Taylor had given up and was fortunate to have the opportunity to add to his score of 5.
In the fifth over, with five fielders in the circle on the off side, Ross Taylor pushed towards cover and ran. Brendon McCullum rightly sent him back, and though Taylor stopped and turned quickly, he was in danger. Walton had got to the ball quickly and collected cleanly. He had plenty of time to line up the stumps but his throw missed. Taylor had given up and was fortunate to have the opportunity to add to his score of 5.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo