Plays of the day from the fifth ODI in Ranchi
Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Nov-2014The mix upBoth Ambati Rayudu and Virat Kohli have been involved in run-outs stemming from miscommunication this series, and together they contrived perhaps the worst mix up of the series, when both batsmen had looked set to make big scores. Kohli bottom-edged a ball from Shaminda Eranga in the 28th over, and though it seemed headed toward third man, Dinesh Chandimal made a good diving stop from behind the stumps. Rayudu had already committed to the run though, and had sped almost to the strikers’ crease before realising that a stationary Kohli had not responded to his call. He turned and sprinted in the other direction, but Eranga had collected the throw and taken the bails off long before he made his ground. Kohli was apologetic as Rayudu trudged back to the dressing room.The superman diveHaving scored 139 not out and removed both openers, Angelo Mathews was taking India on almost on his own, but there was more to come. He had made a misfield in the early overs, but his hands were safe when there was more on the line. Robin Uthappa had just begun to warm to his work when he failed to control a flick off Ajantha Mendis in the 34th over. The ball was some distance from Mathews at short midwicket, and dipping low in its trajectory, but Mathews flung himself forward and to his right, intercepting the ball ten centimeters from the turf while completely horizontal.The pushKohli’s on-side game was typically strong on Sunday, but it was a stroke through the off side that confirmed he was in century-making touch. Eranga sent a length ball down to him just outside off stump in the 12th over, and as the ball did not deserve punishment, Kohli merely slinked close to it and pushed firmly to the left of cover. The timing was so good, and the placement so perfect, it was clear the shot would bring four before it had even beaten the infield.The death stareHaving already expressed contrition when he ran Rayudu out, Kohli went through a wide range of human emotions as Sri Lanka began to exert pressure through the middle overs. He had been visibly disappointed at Kedar Jadav’s dismissal, and though he experienced joy when he completed his 21st ton in the 43rd over, he was irate in the 44th. Stuart Binny charged Mendis first ball, and was stumped comfortably. If Binny had turned his eyes towards his captain on the way back, he would have been met with a glare as harsh as any India player has worn in the series.The impersonationIf it is a close finish for India, generally MS Dhoni is at the crease, to oversee the approach, then deliver the final shellacking. In Dhoni’s absence though, Kohli provided a near stroke-perfect imitation. When Ajantha Mendis pitched one full in the penultimate over, Kohli cleared his front leg, whipped his wrists through the shot and sent the ball high over the long on fence, as he completed the helicopter-follow through to boot. Three balls later, Kohli launched Mendis over long-on again, closing out the chase in Dhoni style. The detail that rounded off that finish did not escape Kohli either: “Playing in MS’ hometown that was a perfect finish for us,” he said at the presentation. The only thing that would have made the impersonation more precise, was if he had taken the game into the final over, and perhaps struck the sixes off Shaminda Eranga, as Dhoni did in the Caribbean last year.
