Category Archives: unusual statistics

September 7, 2019 · 4:22 am

Lankans castled by Astle and Kiwis ‘malinguered’ by MALINGA

Sri Lanka Innings

WIA Fernando…. b Astle …..6 ………..Over 6.4 bowled’m with a wrong’un! Avishka didn’t pick that up at all. It pitched around length outside off, turned in a fair bit and Avishka was on the back foot to steer it away after it turned away but it went the other way to knock over off stump 39/2
MD Gunathilaka ….. b Astle ………..30 …….Over 8.5 another wrong’un and another one beaten! ……This time it’s the well-set Gunathilaka. He pitched it nicely and slow with some flight on leg stump, Gunathilaka went back to defend it but the ball turned away and knocked over the stumps 50/3

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August 31, 2019 · 3:56 pm

Heroes: Two Number Elevens who hung in There till the Last Hurrah …. Fernando and Leach

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 30 August 2019, where the title is “The near-identical tales of Vishwa Fernando and Jack Leach taking their teams to epic wins”

On a warm weekend afternoon, a left-hand No. 5 batsman is on a fourth-innings warpath for the ages. There are fearsome quicks tearing in – bowlers who together form one of the most lethal attacks on the planet. They are breaking like waves but they can’t quench this inferno. The batsman is cutting, hacking, driving and reverse-bludgeoning his way through incredible odds. On the leg side, it’s open season. The area beyond the boundary is bombarded repeatedly. From the ground first, and later, thrillingly, from the air.

Heartbeats around the planet have quickened on his account. Shallow breaths are being drawn all through the stadium. But although he is batting better than he (or perhaps anyone) ever has, late in the piece, he must endure a moment of utter helplessness. Continue reading →

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Filed under Andrew Fidel Fernando, close finsihes, confrontations on field, cricket and life, English cricket, memorable moments, performance, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people, unusual statistics

August 21, 2019 · 1:28 pm

The ICC Amputation of Sri Lanka’s Spinners — Sharda Ugra in Chat with Piyal Wijetunga in 2015

Sharda Ugra of ESPN in ESPNcircinfo, 12 October 2015, where the title is  “The man preparing Sri Lanka for life after Herath”

If there was ever an opposition against whom Sri Lanka could consider a set of try-outs, West Indies would be it. In the light of Tharindu Kaushal‘s current entanglements over his action, Sri Lanka will certainly need to test the spin options that will be available to them in a post-Rangana Herath world.

The team’s strength at home in the era after Murali has revolved around Herath. In 20 Murali-less home Tests, Herath cleaned out 136 wickets, Sri Lanka winning eight and drawing five. Herath, Sri Lanka’s most successful spinner after Mr 800 is currently held together by crepe bandages and hope, his creaking knees and the rest of a generously proportioned 37-year-old body testing his ability to play through pain. The next two Sri Lankan front-line spinners after him have played eight (Dilruwan Perera) and six Tests (Kaushal); the latter has now been given a rap on his doosra fingers by the ICC.

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July 25, 2019 · 2:20 am

Hilarious Cricket! Keep Laughing says One ERROL in Australia

Dear Cricketing Aficianados

It is obvious that England and Australia have conspired to play a huge JOKE on all of us,the general public, in order to amuse themselves. Twenty wickets fell for nothing yesterday in the trial match between Hick’s eleven and Hadden’s eleven.

Then, to top it all,England is all out for 85 in the Test match at Lord’s against Ireland.

No doubt all of you are killing yourself laughing at their humour! Even I have to admit that it is hilarious. Presumably they will all continue the humour in next Thursday’s Ashes Test? ……………….Keep laughing ……………… ERROL

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June 29, 2019 · 4:59 pm

Malinga outed … Nay! Boulted … !!! … as Trent Boult takes three from three in the 50th Over

Actually Lasith Malinga took four from four balls …. but it was not in a dramatic 50th over

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Trent Boult became the first New Zealand bowler to pick up a World Cup hat-trick (Getty Images)
49.1
Boult to Khawaja, 1 run, low full toss, swinging back in, and he drives it down to long off. Bowled at 144kph
49.2
Boult to Cummins, 1 run, fuller ball, around the stumps, and he can only tap it towards short midwicket
49.3
Boult to Khawaja, OUT, GONE THIS TIME! Perfect full ball again, delivered at 137kph, and with a hint of reverse again back in from outside off. Khawaja walks across to access the on side, but misses out on contact and in fact walks right outside the line of the ball. Vital half-century from Khawaja, though, as he acknowledges the crowd on his way out  ……………………..…UT Khawaja b Boult 88 (129b 5×4 0x6) SR: 68.21
49.4
Boult to Starc, OUT, OH YOU BEAUTY! We might get to see a bit of this from Starc later — a perfect yorker, that swings in at good pace and goes under his blade even as he looks to jam it down. Almost as good as the ball that Starc delivered to Ben Stokes just a few days ago …...MA Starc b Boult 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
49.5
Boult to Behrendorff, OUT, HE’S GOT IT! Full, swinging away from him after pitching around leg, and given. Australia have reviewed this! It’s a perfect full length, and there’s no sign of bat near that. The only question could be where it pitched, I would think. The bat hits ground, but that is after the ball passes through and crashes into his right foot. It’s out, and that’s a hat-trick for Trent Boult! ……  JP Behrendorff lbw b Boult 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
49.6
Boult to Lyon, no run, full, wide outside off, and he looks to back away to get this down to fine leg, but misses. Almost got FOUR IN FOUR!

New Zealand were at the receiving end of the first hat-trick in World Cups — all the way back in 1987 — and Trent Boult gets them their first ever on this day!

   ***  ****

the MALINGA SAGA in a losing cause with a dramatic finish

South Africa was nearly undermined when strolling to victory in a Wold Cup match in the West Indies in 2007 .
Malinga bowled the 44th and 46th overs …. Result
6-206 (Shaun Pollock, 44.5 ov),……. 7-206 (Andrew Hall, 44.6 ov),
8-207 (Jacques Kallis, 46.1 ov), 9…….-207 (Makhaya Ntini, 46.2 ov)
PROCEEDING BACKWARDS

Phew! What a nerve-wracking finish. South Africa were cruising at one stage and were hit by a double strike by Murali. They recovered again, via a calm Kallis, and then, just when they were staring at the victory, they blinked. Malinga slinged slower ones and fiery yorkers and blasted out four in a row. From there the game was hanging on a knife’s edge. And in the end, an edgy drive to third man sealed it for South Africa.

48.2
4
Malinga to Peterson, FOUR runs, Peterson does it for SA with a edge past the slip. Fullish, outside off stump, Peterson drives, gets a outside edge and it runs down to third man boundary. SA have won. They nearly choked but have pulled it off. Peterson jumps in the air, pumps his fist and then smashes the stumps down at the other end. Immediately apologises! What a cracker of a game!
48.1
0
Malinga to Peterson, no run, Swing and a miss. What a cracking game this has been. Full and just outside off stump, slants away, he has a drive, but inside the line and the ball rushes past the outside edge.

One slip in place.

END OF OVER:

48 | (maiden) | SA: 208/9 (2 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.33, RRR: 1.00)
  • Charl Langeveldt1 (9b)
  • Robin Peterson0 (6b)
  • Chaminda Vaas10-1-31-1
  • Lasith Malinga9-0-50-4
47.6
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, Beaten again. Another one that angles away from Langeveldt who pushes at it, bat meets air, ball heads to Sangakkara. Malinga to bowl the next over.
47.5
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, again another off cutter, around off stump, Langeveldt leans forward and defends. They were 206 for 5 staring at a win and what a turn around from there
47.4
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, off cutter, slanting away from the off stump, Langeveldt stretches forward, opens the bat-face, steers to point. Pure drama.
47.3
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, pushes it across Langeveldt who lets it go. He has taken the first three deliveries away. Will he bend the next one in?
47.2
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, beaten! Lands back of length, on the off stump line and shapes away, Langeveldt has a tentative poke – nervousness, can’t blame him and is beaten
47.1
0
Vaas to Langeveldt, no run, fullish, just outside off stump, pushed to cover

1 to tie and 2 to win. Only one wicket. It doesn’t get closer than this. Slip in place. Mahela is making sure he gets the field right. Two slips in now.

END OF OVER:

47 | 1 Run 2 Wkts | SA: 208/9 (2 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.42, RRR: 0.66)
  • Robin Peterson0 (6b)
  • Charl Langeveldt1 (3b)
  • Lasith Malinga9-0-50-4
  • Chaminda Vaas9-0-31-1
46.6
0
Malinga to Peterson, no run, beauty, another delivery that teases the outside edge. Full and tailing away from off stump, drives and is beaten. What a fab over it has been.
46.5
1
Malinga to Langeveldt, 1 run, Jayasuriya mis-fields at squareleg and SA sneak in one run. SLower one, on the middle and leg, turned to behind square. Jayasuriya moves to his right but misfields.
46.4
0
Malinga to Langeveldt, no run, full, straight, on the off stump, pushed to mid-off. 3 to win from 20 balls. Camera pans to South Africa dressing room. They look stunned
46.3
0
Malinga to Langeveldt, no run, beaten Just kissed past the off stump. Tremendous nerves out there. Full and just outside off, yorker-length, Langeveldt pokes at it and gets beaten
46.2
W
Malinga to Ntini, OUT, And then they were one! Malinga gets four in four. Unbelievable! Screaming yorker and Ntini drives, plays all over it and ball crashes into the middle stump. Malinga is slinging down magic deliveries and SA are nine down.

M Ntini b Malinga 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

46.1
W
Malinga to Kallis, OUT, Would you believe it? Malinga has got the hat-trick! Full, furious, outside off stump, Kallis goes for a square-drive and nicks it behind. Loud appeal. Kallis stays rooted. Even louder appeal and Harper raises the fatal finger. SA eight down and choking real badly.

JH Kallis c †Sangakkara b Malinga 86 (187m 110b 4×4 0x6) SR: 78.18

Malinga on a hat-trick. What a funny little game this has been.

Malinga: “I am feeling bad that we lost the game but I am happy that I took a hattrick.

*******

CWC Greatest Moments: Lasith Malinga takes four in four against South Africa =  https://www.cricketworldcup.com/video/1090515

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June 5, 2019 · 12:02 am

Three Different Headlines for Sri Lanka-Afghanistan Match

“Madness beats joy as Afghanistan miss their big chance against Sri Lanka” — Jarrod Kimber, ESPN staff

Mohammad Nabi celebrates a wicket Getty Images

“Lasith Malinga grabs the limelight but Nuwan Pradeep turns the Game  — Sharda UgraSenior editor, ESPNcricinfo

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June 4, 2019 · 8:27 am

Even-Stevens between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka?

Ankur Dhawan, in ESPNcricnfo, 3 June 2019, where the title is   “Can improving Afghanistan exploit Sri Lanka’s vulnerabilities?”

Bookmakers are offering near-equal odds on the Sri Lanka-Afghanistan contest in Cardiff, and although there was no way of calling this four years ago, when Sri Lanka were contenders until being blown away by South Africa in Sydney, things are a little different now, especially after their walloping at New Zealand’s hands last week. And don’t forget what happened last year, when Afghanistan knocked Sri Lanka out of the Asia Cup.

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June 1, 2019 · 11:06 am

Shattering Collapse at Cardiff by Sri Lanka gives England a Test Win – in 2011

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/13593906

Phil Dawkes in BBC Sport, 13 May 2011, with this title  “Sri Lanka batting collapse hands England shock victory”

Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann bowled England to a remarkable innings victory after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 82 in the first Test in Cardiff.A draw seemed likely after rain delayed the start of day five until 1500 BST. But England declared after two overs on 496-5, a first-innings lead of 96, as soon as Ian Bell reached his century.

Tremlett (4-40) grabbed two early wickets, before he and Swann (4-16) combined to tear through the tourists, with Stuart Broad finishing them off. With the last eight wickets falling in just over an hour after the tea interval, it left England victorious by an innings and 14 runs.

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May 26, 2019 · 9:45 am

Sri Lanka Under 19 run out for 234 by Pakistan in Hambantota

Four of the nine batsmen were run out when Sri Lanka UNDER 19 scored 234 runs for 9 wkts in their fifty-over match vs Pakistan at Hambantota …. and THEN Pakistan tried to outdo them: they managed three run-outs out of ten wkts in making 208 all out!

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May 13, 2019 · 1:57 pm

Ten Best Cameo Innings in 2019 IPL

The Editorial Team for CricketCountry .... https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/best-matches-of-ipl-2019-from-russell-to-pollard-the-top-10-cameos-843365?utm_source=izooto&utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=IPL%202019&utm_content=&utm_term=

The 12th season of the IPL ended on Sunday with table-toppers Mumbai Indiansbeating defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the final by one run, to claim their record fourth IPL championship.  Beyond the hundreds and half-centuries that many players scored, there were smaller innings that made headlines for their ferocity in the face of the odds. Here’s a look at the 10 best cameos of IPL 2019 that set up or finished matches:

1 Kieron Pollard 41* off 25 balls, MI vs CSK, IPL final

After a good start powered by Quinton de Kock, MI lost their openers in successive overs and as boundaries dried up and wickets kept falling, it looked as if CSK would keep their opponents to around 130. But thanks to Kieron Pollard, who hit three sixes in his 41 not out off 25 balls, MI ended up with a total of 148/9.In an innings in which the best score was de Kock’s 29, Pollard getting those vital runs proved massive in a one-run win for MI.

Best matches of IPL 2019: From Russell to Pollard, the top 10 cameos

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