Caught off the scoreboard
Plays of the day from the match between Zimbabwe and Australia in Harare
Firdose Moonda
31-Aug-2014
Malcolm Waller dropped Brad Haddin off his own bowling • Associated Press
The squandered chance
Zimbabwe dropped five catches but the one that cost them the most was the chance when Brad Haddin was on 5. He top-edged a flighted delivery from Malcolm Waller, but instead of allowing a team-mate to go for it, Waller chased after it himself. He had enough time to get to mid-on but misjudged his position and ended up closing fingers around thin air as the ball fell in front of him. There was a fielder running in from the deep and Waller would have learned that sometimes teamwork is the better option.
Zimbabwe dropped five catches but the one that cost them the most was the chance when Brad Haddin was on 5. He top-edged a flighted delivery from Malcolm Waller, but instead of allowing a team-mate to go for it, Waller chased after it himself. He had enough time to get to mid-on but misjudged his position and ended up closing fingers around thin air as the ball fell in front of him. There was a fielder running in from the deep and Waller would have learned that sometimes teamwork is the better option.
The rebound catch
For all the catches Zimbabwe could not take, they caught one that did not matter. Haddin decided to up the ante and hit a pitched up Chatara delivery over midwicket. The ball bounced off the manual scoreboard and back onto the field where Waller caught it one-handed without so much as trying. He held his arm up in mock-triumph to the crowd's delight.
For all the catches Zimbabwe could not take, they caught one that did not matter. Haddin decided to up the ante and hit a pitched up Chatara delivery over midwicket. The ball bounced off the manual scoreboard and back onto the field where Waller caught it one-handed without so much as trying. He held his arm up in mock-triumph to the crowd's delight.
The accidental run-out
After letting Australia off the hook so many times, Zimbabwe benefitted from an unintentional wicket. Ben Cutting drove the first ball of the final over to long-on and wanted a second run but Waller's throw was quick and Cutting was in danger of being run out. Brendan Taylor was in an awkward position on the side of the pitch and did not collect the ball but it deflected off his gloves and hit the stumps. He appealed for the run-out and replays showed it was a legitimate question. Cutting had to go.
After letting Australia off the hook so many times, Zimbabwe benefitted from an unintentional wicket. Ben Cutting drove the first ball of the final over to long-on and wanted a second run but Waller's throw was quick and Cutting was in danger of being run out. Brendan Taylor was in an awkward position on the side of the pitch and did not collect the ball but it deflected off his gloves and hit the stumps. He appealed for the run-out and replays showed it was a legitimate question. Cutting had to go.
The part-time risk
Australia were a bowling option short because Michael Clarke did not take the field at first, and with spin an obvious threat they had to turn to a part-timer. Aaron Finch's first over was tidy but he lost his length in his second. His third delivery was short and inviting, and Hamilton Masakadza had enough of showing respect and gave it a meaty mow over long-on. Finch overcompensated and overpitched twice in the over, and Taylor to put both deliveries away to the boundary.
Australia were a bowling option short because Michael Clarke did not take the field at first, and with spin an obvious threat they had to turn to a part-timer. Aaron Finch's first over was tidy but he lost his length in his second. His third delivery was short and inviting, and Hamilton Masakadza had enough of showing respect and gave it a meaty mow over long-on. Finch overcompensated and overpitched twice in the over, and Taylor to put both deliveries away to the boundary.
The hamstrung grab
Clarke's hamstring had forced him to retire in the 43rd over of Australia's innings but he returned when they were nine down with two balls to go. He then sat out of the first 18 overs of Zimbabwe's chase but came back to stand at slip for the rest of the game. Clarke showed his niggle was not going to limit his movement when Sean Williams' reverse-sweep off Nathan Lyon resulted in an edge. Clarke had to leap to his right and reach up to hold on to the chance and he did it all with one hand.
Clarke's hamstring had forced him to retire in the 43rd over of Australia's innings but he returned when they were nine down with two balls to go. He then sat out of the first 18 overs of Zimbabwe's chase but came back to stand at slip for the rest of the game. Clarke showed his niggle was not going to limit his movement when Sean Williams' reverse-sweep off Nathan Lyon resulted in an edge. Clarke had to leap to his right and reach up to hold on to the chance and he did it all with one hand.
The six that sealed it
Prosper Utseya made headlines with a hat-trick in the last match Zimbabwe played, against South Africa, and he did it again today. After partnering his captain with aplomb, Utseya struck the winning blow, mowing Mitchell Starc over the midwicket boundary for six. As soon as he struck the ball, Utseya held his pose, knowing it was good enough to win the match. At the other end, Chigumbura had his arms aloft as his young son raced on to the field to give him a hug.
Prosper Utseya made headlines with a hat-trick in the last match Zimbabwe played, against South Africa, and he did it again today. After partnering his captain with aplomb, Utseya struck the winning blow, mowing Mitchell Starc over the midwicket boundary for six. As soon as he struck the ball, Utseya held his pose, knowing it was good enough to win the match. At the other end, Chigumbura had his arms aloft as his young son raced on to the field to give him a hug.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent