The troublesome towel, and Sangakkara's finishing touch
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Pune Warriors and Deccan Chargers in Mumbai
Firdose Moonda
16-May-2011
Daniel Christian saw off Sourav Ganguly, much to the crowd's disappointment • Associated Press
The anti-climax
The crowd waited in anticipation for Sourav Ganguly to turn out for the home side and when he came to bat at No.3, he was greeted with the usual, massive cheer. After seeing off four dot balls from Daniel Christian, the pressure was building for Ganguly to make an impact, but he did the exact opposite. He limply hung his bat out to drive to the covers and made just enough contact with the ball to send it straight to a fielder. Pragyan Ojha took a simple catch and the great Dada was out for a duck.
The crowd waited in anticipation for Sourav Ganguly to turn out for the home side and when he came to bat at No.3, he was greeted with the usual, massive cheer. After seeing off four dot balls from Daniel Christian, the pressure was building for Ganguly to make an impact, but he did the exact opposite. He limply hung his bat out to drive to the covers and made just enough contact with the ball to send it straight to a fielder. Pragyan Ojha took a simple catch and the great Dada was out for a duck.
The towel that caused trouble
Yuvraj Singh seemed fairly distracted through his innings, and rightly so with the number of wickets falling at the other end. As Dale Steyn was about to run in to bowl his second ball to Yuvraj, the batsman pulled away and indicated something was bothering him. He waved at the sightscreen, sending Steyn on a fact-finding mission and the fast bowler ran all the way only to see that a cameraman was causing all the trouble. Steyn asked him to move out of the way and even as he shuffled to the left, Yuvraj made gestures that all was not well.
Yuvraj Singh seemed fairly distracted through his innings, and rightly so with the number of wickets falling at the other end. As Dale Steyn was about to run in to bowl his second ball to Yuvraj, the batsman pulled away and indicated something was bothering him. He waved at the sightscreen, sending Steyn on a fact-finding mission and the fast bowler ran all the way only to see that a cameraman was causing all the trouble. Steyn asked him to move out of the way and even as he shuffled to the left, Yuvraj made gestures that all was not well.
Steyn eventually figured out that it wasn't the cameraman himself, but a white towel that was resting on top of his camera that was giving Yuvraj problems and it was duly removed. That it wasn't really in Yuvraj's line of sight is another matter.
The captain's final act
Kumar Sangakkara lived up to his reputation of being classy and gentlemanlike when he walked after being caught behind by Robin Uthappa off the bowling of Rahul Sharma. The former Sri Lanka captain got an under edge, quite a thick one. While Uthappa was appealing vociferously, Sangakkara had already tucked his bat under his arm and was leaving the crease. Sharma saluted him on his way off. Sangakkara was playing in his last match of this IPL season and signed off in style, and with a win.
Kumar Sangakkara lived up to his reputation of being classy and gentlemanlike when he walked after being caught behind by Robin Uthappa off the bowling of Rahul Sharma. The former Sri Lanka captain got an under edge, quite a thick one. While Uthappa was appealing vociferously, Sangakkara had already tucked his bat under his arm and was leaving the crease. Sharma saluted him on his way off. Sangakkara was playing in his last match of this IPL season and signed off in style, and with a win.
The South African battle
Wayne Parnell won the contest with JP Duminy after he denied his South African team-mate the chance to finish off the match for Deccan. Parnell was tasked with bowling the final two overs and was determined to show his skills at the death. He kept it wicket to wicket and quick and in the process sent Duminy on his way. He fired in the fourth ball, too straight for Duminy to play properly, especially since he took his eye off it at the last moment. He played a nothing shot and the leg stump was pegged back. Parnell gave him an exuberant send off, knowing that the game was beyond Pune's reach.
Wayne Parnell won the contest with JP Duminy after he denied his South African team-mate the chance to finish off the match for Deccan. Parnell was tasked with bowling the final two overs and was determined to show his skills at the death. He kept it wicket to wicket and quick and in the process sent Duminy on his way. He fired in the fourth ball, too straight for Duminy to play properly, especially since he took his eye off it at the last moment. He played a nothing shot and the leg stump was pegged back. Parnell gave him an exuberant send off, knowing that the game was beyond Pune's reach.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent