da leao： Plays of the day for Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians, Mumbai, May 24, 2008
Cricinfo staff24-May-2008
Glenn McGrath and Sachin Tendulkar face off once more (file photo) © AFP
We meet again: After India’s premature exit at last year’s WorldCup, few would have thought Glenn McGrath and Sachin Tendulkar wouldmeet again on a cricket field. But at the Feroz Shah Kotla, it happened, andTendulkar said hello in the best possible fashion. A bit of width outsideoff stump, a small step forward and just a gentle push through the coversfor four. Almost perfect.One for the album: No matter how long or distinguished a career YoMahesh has, he’ll always remember this Saturday night. A delivery slanting intothe batsman’s pad, an awkward stroke across the line, and the leg stumpknocked back. Not an especially unusual dismissal, but when the batsman’sname is Tendulkar, no 20-year-old bowler is going to forget it.Sputnik Sweetheart: When Amit Mishra flighted one a little, SanathJayasuriya launched himself at it so violently that the ball went in toorbit, eventually landing on an elevated stage which had a DelhiDaredevils billboard behind it. Talk about hitting someone where it hurts.Oriental Shuffle: Is a Django Reinhardt classic, but not reallyrecommended when facing a bowler who knows your game better than most.Facing Ashish Nehra, a team-mate in the Indian and Delhi Ranji Trophyteams, Virender Sehwag went too far across in an attempt to play the cutshot down to fine leg. Leg stump out of the ground, fans silent andMumbai’s hideously dressed cheerleaders on their feet.Welcome to the IPL: When Gautam Gambhir cut him for four and sixover point, Andre Nel looked like he might burst a blood vessel. Evenbefore the second stroke had sailed over the rope, Nel was ineffing-and-blinding mode, and the adrenaline levels soared even higherthree balls later when he had Gambhir caught in the deep. At this rate, yogic deep breathing may be needed.Spoke too soon, son?: On Saturday, Robin Uthappa offered somepearls of wisdom on what it takes to succeed in one-day cricket. “Franklyspeaking, fielding plays a very integral part in ODIs these days,” he wasquoted as saying. “The younger legs make a huge difference.” After he madean embarrassing mess of a simple stop at cover off Jayasuriya, soon to be39, you could only hope that his team-mate hadn’t read it.