If you are a CSK supporter, you couldn’t have asked for a better show. It was a delight to watch Matt Hayden back in his elements even after retirement. It was a typically muscular innings from Hayden, which ensured CSK were off to a blistering start. If not for the mix-up with Raina he would have ensured CSK batted B’lore out of the match. What if he didn’t? Murali ensured that wasn’t regretted.
After a move, which was destined to fail (opening with Praveen Kumar), B’lore threatened for a while with Kallis hitting a few classy boundaries. The pitch was so true that our mortal cricketing instincts would have told us that B’lore would mount a serious chase especially with Pieterson and Dravid still to come. But Murali had other ideas! It was a magical spell from him.
Coming around the wicket and with the ability to turn the ball square both ways, he’s as canny as it gets. As if guessing between a big spinning off break or a doosra wasn’t tough enough, Pieterson encounters a ball pitching on the middle and still uncertain about the movement, offers a prod and the ball holds its line, evades the bat and catches him plumb in front. He was so confused that he ended up asking the umpire if there was some bat in it! But what followed was the real scene-stealer.
Having seen Pieterson’s dismissal from the non-striker’s end, Robin Uthappa appeared well equipped not to fall prey to the same trick. And what does Murali do? Without much change in the trajectory he bowls a similar ball again but its similar only till it pitches and after pitching it does a Shane Warne to leave Uthappa out of his crease searching for the ball and Dhoni does the rest. This is craftsmanship of the highest order. This dismissal of Uthappa and Shane Warne’s magic against Akhil has been the standout moments of IPL so far. Hopefully more magic lies ahead…
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment