De Kock faces the Steyn stare
Plays of the day from the tri-series match between Australia and South Africa in Harare
Firdose Moonda
02-Sep-2014
Mitchell Marsh gave Dale Steyn treatment he had never suffered before • AFP
De Kock gets it wrong
Australia's positive start to their innings could have ended early when Aaron Finch found himself stranded in his attempt to sneak a single at the end of the fourth over. Phillip Hughes had nudged JP Duminy behind square leg and was content to register a dot ball, but not Finch, who was halfway down the pitch by the time Hughes had even seen his partner run. Had Quinton de Kock picked up the ball on his first attempt, he would have run Finch out at the non-striker's end, but luckily for Australia he did not collect cleanly and allowed the batsman to get back in time.
Australia's positive start to their innings could have ended early when Aaron Finch found himself stranded in his attempt to sneak a single at the end of the fourth over. Phillip Hughes had nudged JP Duminy behind square leg and was content to register a dot ball, but not Finch, who was halfway down the pitch by the time Hughes had even seen his partner run. Had Quinton de Kock picked up the ball on his first attempt, he would have run Finch out at the non-striker's end, but luckily for Australia he did not collect cleanly and allowed the batsman to get back in time.
De Kock gets it right
Glenn Maxwell was finding run-scoring laboured, and out of frustration he tried to muscle the sixth ball he faced over midwicket. The problem for Maxwell, though, was that it was a Dale Steyn short ball and it needed more than just meat to be properly dispatched. Maxwell top-edged the ball straight up and Steyn wanted to finish the job himself. He called for the catch but de Kock had already done the same. Steyn trusted his wicketkeeper, and rightly so, as de Kock safely pouched the ball. De Kock's celebration was briefly curtailed when he was met with a snarl from Steyn, but it eventually gave way to a smile and some high-fives.
Glenn Maxwell was finding run-scoring laboured, and out of frustration he tried to muscle the sixth ball he faced over midwicket. The problem for Maxwell, though, was that it was a Dale Steyn short ball and it needed more than just meat to be properly dispatched. Maxwell top-edged the ball straight up and Steyn wanted to finish the job himself. He called for the catch but de Kock had already done the same. Steyn trusted his wicketkeeper, and rightly so, as de Kock safely pouched the ball. De Kock's celebration was briefly curtailed when he was met with a snarl from Steyn, but it eventually gave way to a smile and some high-fives.
Saving the best for last
Mitchell Marsh collected 42 runs in sixes and saved his most sensational hit for last. Marsh proved he was the master of the straight shot by hitting Imran Tahir and Steyn back over their heads. He even managed to dispatch Steyn for three consecutive sixes for the first time in ODIs. But when Ryan McLaren abandoned the plan to fire it in full and slammed it short instead, Marsh targeted a different area. He latched on to the short ball and slapped it over midwicket, over the stands, over the rugby field next door, and out of sight.
Mitchell Marsh collected 42 runs in sixes and saved his most sensational hit for last. Marsh proved he was the master of the straight shot by hitting Imran Tahir and Steyn back over their heads. He even managed to dispatch Steyn for three consecutive sixes for the first time in ODIs. But when Ryan McLaren abandoned the plan to fire it in full and slammed it short instead, Marsh targeted a different area. He latched on to the short ball and slapped it over midwicket, over the stands, over the rugby field next door, and out of sight.
Dive of the day
Although he was one half of Australia's most important partnership, Brad Haddin's contribution with the bat was just 11. However, he did something far more important in the field. Hashim Amla was fidgety throughout his innings and had moved across his stumps to play Marsh down to fine leg but could only manage an edge behind. Haddin stretched fully to his left and timed his move perfectly to take a superb one-handed catch.
Although he was one half of Australia's most important partnership, Brad Haddin's contribution with the bat was just 11. However, he did something far more important in the field. Hashim Amla was fidgety throughout his innings and had moved across his stumps to play Marsh down to fine leg but could only manage an edge behind. Haddin stretched fully to his left and timed his move perfectly to take a superb one-handed catch.
Throw of the day
Steven Smith is fast gaining a reputation as a man whose arm should not be chanced by batsmen. He proved that again when Steyn unwittingly decided to take him on. Steyn was concentrating on passing the strike to du Plessis as often as he could, and after punching the ball to mid-on, he tried to out-sprint the fielder. Smith had all three stumps to aim at and zeroed in on middle with such accuracy that he broke it. Steyn did not even wait for replays and kept jogging in the direction he started off in, because it would take him back to the changing room.
Steven Smith is fast gaining a reputation as a man whose arm should not be chanced by batsmen. He proved that again when Steyn unwittingly decided to take him on. Steyn was concentrating on passing the strike to du Plessis as often as he could, and after punching the ball to mid-on, he tried to out-sprint the fielder. Smith had all three stumps to aim at and zeroed in on middle with such accuracy that he broke it. Steyn did not even wait for replays and kept jogging in the direction he started off in, because it would take him back to the changing room.
Comedy of errors
Four deliveries after giving a lesson on how to run someone out, the two teams conjured up the exact opposite. Du Plessis inside edged Johnson and was not quite sure where the ball went. But when he saw Aaron Phangiso moving towards him, he thought a run might be on. When he realised Haddin had closed in on the ball, du Plessis decided against the single and sent back Phangiso, who was two-thirds of the way down the pitch. A direct hit, or even someone backing up at the non-striker's end to break the stumps, would have dismissed a slow-moving Phangiso, but Australia had neither.
Four deliveries after giving a lesson on how to run someone out, the two teams conjured up the exact opposite. Du Plessis inside edged Johnson and was not quite sure where the ball went. But when he saw Aaron Phangiso moving towards him, he thought a run might be on. When he realised Haddin had closed in on the ball, du Plessis decided against the single and sent back Phangiso, who was two-thirds of the way down the pitch. A direct hit, or even someone backing up at the non-striker's end to break the stumps, would have dismissed a slow-moving Phangiso, but Australia had neither.
Mis-step of the day
Among the various unlucky ways to get out, hit-wickets rank fairly high on the list. Du Plessis had spent a large part of his innings batting outside his crease as he looked to take on the bowling, but went back to a Kane Richardson delivery that he was trying to hit through midwicket. Du Plessis made contact but just as he did, he stepped on the base of his off-stump and dislodged the bail to end his own innings, as well as South Africa's challenge.
Among the various unlucky ways to get out, hit-wickets rank fairly high on the list. Du Plessis had spent a large part of his innings batting outside his crease as he looked to take on the bowling, but went back to a Kane Richardson delivery that he was trying to hit through midwicket. Du Plessis made contact but just as he did, he stepped on the base of his off-stump and dislodged the bail to end his own innings, as well as South Africa's challenge.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent