Boult goes bang, bang
Plays of the Day from the match between New Zealand and Scotland in Dunedin
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Dunedin
17-Feb-2015
Trent Boult's radar was bang on in his first over • Getty Images
The immediate realignment
Trent Boult had picked up an IPL contract worth approximately US $633,000 overnight, but his first over of the day suggested his priorities had not changed. Boult first attempted to angle the ball into the right-hander's pads by pitching on about leg stump, only to learn there was substantial movement to be gleaned in the air, despite the blue skies. That first one would swing down the leg side, but his next two balls made clinical use of the conditions. Both deliveries straightened late and lavishly, and caught Calum Macleod and Hamish Gardiner playing down the wrong line, to collect two golden ducks.
Trent Boult had picked up an IPL contract worth approximately US $633,000 overnight, but his first over of the day suggested his priorities had not changed. Boult first attempted to angle the ball into the right-hander's pads by pitching on about leg stump, only to learn there was substantial movement to be gleaned in the air, despite the blue skies. That first one would swing down the leg side, but his next two balls made clinical use of the conditions. Both deliveries straightened late and lavishly, and caught Calum Macleod and Hamish Gardiner playing down the wrong line, to collect two golden ducks.
The pad before bat before pad
Preston Mommsen received a nearly-unplayable ball first up when Tim Southee jagged one in from a length, and he did almost play it. He was given out when ball struck bat and pad, but Mommsen was not sure in which order. Scotland's review was called for, and though without Hotspot, it was difficult to make out where exactly the ball made contact, replays suggested the ball had brushed front pad, then taken a thick edge, then deflected on to pad again. The on-field umpire's decision would stand.
Preston Mommsen received a nearly-unplayable ball first up when Tim Southee jagged one in from a length, and he did almost play it. He was given out when ball struck bat and pad, but Mommsen was not sure in which order. Scotland's review was called for, and though without Hotspot, it was difficult to make out where exactly the ball made contact, replays suggested the ball had brushed front pad, then taken a thick edge, then deflected on to pad again. The on-field umpire's decision would stand.
The spill
With Pakistan and Sri Lanka having toured recently, New Zealand batsmen must almost expect reprieves in the field, and on Tuesday, Scotland fluffed a chance to keep the trend alive. Brendon McCullum flicked a full ball from Rob Taylor towards the man at deep midwicket, and though Gardiner made good ground to the ball, which was dropping in front of him, he never managed to get his fingers around it, and a chance to have New Zealand under slight pressure at 22 for 2 was spurned.
With Pakistan and Sri Lanka having toured recently, New Zealand batsmen must almost expect reprieves in the field, and on Tuesday, Scotland fluffed a chance to keep the trend alive. Brendon McCullum flicked a full ball from Rob Taylor towards the man at deep midwicket, and though Gardiner made good ground to the ball, which was dropping in front of him, he never managed to get his fingers around it, and a chance to have New Zealand under slight pressure at 22 for 2 was spurned.
The namesake
Rob Taylor bowled to Ross Taylor as soon as the batsman came to the crease in the eighth over. But while Rob, who was born in Northampton to a Scottish mother, could not dismiss Ross, who was born near Wellington and has Samoan heritage, they did manage to get on the scorecard for the same dismissal. Soon after lunch Ross Taylor attempted to bludgeon Majid Haq into the grass bank on the leg side, but his top-edge carried only as far as Rob Taylor, who was at deep square leg and gobbled the chance up.
Rob Taylor bowled to Ross Taylor as soon as the batsman came to the crease in the eighth over. But while Rob, who was born in Northampton to a Scottish mother, could not dismiss Ross, who was born near Wellington and has Samoan heritage, they did manage to get on the scorecard for the same dismissal. Soon after lunch Ross Taylor attempted to bludgeon Majid Haq into the grass bank on the leg side, but his top-edge carried only as far as Rob Taylor, who was at deep square leg and gobbled the chance up.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando