Revenge is sweet for Yuvraj
S Rajesh presents the Plays of the Day for the match between India and England at Kingsmead
S Rajesh in Durban
19-Sep-2007
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Revenge is sweet
Exactly two weeks ago, Yuvraj Singh had to endure the humiliation of having five sixes smashed off his bowling at The Oval against England. With India unlikely to play England for a while, Yuvraj decided to pay them back, with interest, in their last clash of the season. Stuart Broad happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as Yuvraj waded into him, launching the ball into orbit not once, not twice, not thrice, but six times. Meanwhile, Dimitri Mascarenhas, who had been the perpetrator of that assault on Yuvraj at The Oval, was quietly thanking his stars that he hadn't been called upon to confront Yuvraj in this mood.
Exactly two weeks ago, Yuvraj Singh had to endure the humiliation of having five sixes smashed off his bowling at The Oval against England. With India unlikely to play England for a while, Yuvraj decided to pay them back, with interest, in their last clash of the season. Stuart Broad happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as Yuvraj waded into him, launching the ball into orbit not once, not twice, not thrice, but six times. Meanwhile, Dimitri Mascarenhas, who had been the perpetrator of that assault on Yuvraj at The Oval, was quietly thanking his stars that he hadn't been called upon to confront Yuvraj in this mood.
Welcome to the real world Dimitri
India had only managed 41 from six overs, but the introduction of Mascarenhas was the call to action. Virender Sehwag, whose tally was 15 from 22 balls at that stage, turned it on, clipping a four to leg and then slicing one over point for six. The run-fest had begun.
India had only managed 41 from six overs, but the introduction of Mascarenhas was the call to action. Virender Sehwag, whose tally was 15 from 22 balls at that stage, turned it on, clipping a four to leg and then slicing one over point for six. The run-fest had begun.
Butterfingers
India had already cantered to 77 after nine overs, but England had an opportunity to stem the rot right there, when Sehwag swung hard but miscued the shot. The ball spiralled in the air behind the wicketkeeper, and Mascarenhas - that man again - ran in from fine leg, got under the ball, and then messed it up completely, not even getting his fingers to the ball.
India had already cantered to 77 after nine overs, but England had an opportunity to stem the rot right there, when Sehwag swung hard but miscued the shot. The ball spiralled in the air behind the wicketkeeper, and Mascarenhas - that man again - ran in from fine leg, got under the ball, and then messed it up completely, not even getting his fingers to the ball.
A slip in the deep
Vikram Solanki top-edged a cut off Joginder Sharma, the ball looped towards RP Singh at third man for what should have been a regulation catch, but there was a twist to this story. Singh slipped, fell, and frantically flapped his hands at the ball even as it bounced just to his left and made its way to the boundary. Four runs to England, minus marks and a rap on the knuckles to Singh for his dodgy shoes.
Vikram Solanki top-edged a cut off Joginder Sharma, the ball looped towards RP Singh at third man for what should have been a regulation catch, but there was a twist to this story. Singh slipped, fell, and frantically flapped his hands at the ball even as it bounced just to his left and made its way to the boundary. Four runs to England, minus marks and a rap on the knuckles to Singh for his dodgy shoes.
S Rajesh is stats editor of Cricinfo