438 runs in 40
overs .. .. what a belter it turned out
to be .. in the end – was the hero right in doing it ? – ‘it is opinion’ –
could be pretty prejudiced one at that. .. .. and one cannot think how the
arm-chair critics would have reacted had it been the mercurial MSD. To some – he takes the match till the
proverbial last match and thrives on that – he has done it more than a couple
of times and when he could not fructify – people have torn into his flesh !!!
Right of first
refusal is a contractual right that gives its holder
the option to enter a business transaction with the owner of something,
according to specified terms, before the owner is entitled to enter into that
transaction with a third party. A first refusal right must have at least three
parties: the owner, the third party or buyer, and the option holder. In
general, the owner must make the same offer to the option holder before making
the offer to the buyer. The right of first refusal is similar in concept to a
call option.
Maharashtra
on Monday reported a slight dip in the number of fresh cases, with 51,751 more
people testing positive. The state also reported 258 more deaths. On Sunday,
more than 63,000 people had tested positive for Covid in the state. . .. . and right there in the middle at
Wankhede, there was a pot-boiler. Five required off two balls, an International allrounder in Chris
Morris at the other end, Sanju Samson has been in dream touch, having hit seven
sixes in his 119 off 61. Then he gets a ball right in the slot, and he hits it
straight to a cleverly placed wide long-off. He refuses to run, drawing almost
indignant bemusement from Morris and disbelieving looks from the dugout. Was that a right decision ?
To his
supporters and those who saw him the way he played, perhaps Samson did the right thing and the end result
should not change that at all. 5 off 2 –
had he run a single – there would only be two possibilities (4 or 6 securing a
win – otherwise loss – of course a 3 would have tied !) Wankhede is a small
ground, the ball was hit hard and straight to the fielder. So the second was
probably not on. Had Samson taken the single, he would have watched the last
ball from the other end.
For Samson people may
argue that had taken that single, leaving Morris, who was not middling the ball (wait he
had played only 4 balls for 2) – yes he had missed a ball pitched in the slot
but all that happens Samson predicted
that he is likelier to hit a six than Morris is to hit a four. Chasing a formidable 222, Samson brought it
down to 21 off 12 and then 13 off six. They managed only two off the first
three balls of the last over and needed 11 from three when Samson crunched
Arshdeep Singh over the covers for a six. He then drilled the next delivery
along the ground to wide long-off but sent a sprinting Chris Morris back
without a single, which took the equation to five from the final ball. Samson
connected well with Singh's cutter but only found deep cover, where Deepak
Hooda fittingly took the catch – it was all over and here are we debating !
Arshdeep bowled the toughest over of the night, in
which he kept aiming for the wide yorkers. The first three worked, the fourth
didn't and eventually he trumped Samson to seal victory. Rajasthan Royals team
director Kumar Sangakkara backed his captain Sanju Samson's decision to retain
the strike for the last ball of the chase denying that single.
In that chase where Ben
Stokes scored a duck and Jos Butler 25 – Riyan Parag was a revelation – hitting
3 sixers in his cameo of 25 off 11. He was so nonchalant in lofting deliveries
beyond the rope. Before concluding the
other man, Chris Morris has scored International 50s in all 3 formats – and is one of the IPL's biggest South African beneficiary having
been bought for US$625,000 at the 2013
auction and US$1 million three years later. Morris is a bowling allrounder, who
often sends the speedgun beyond 140kph and bats fearlessly in the lower-order. This year he had
been picked for an astronomical price of INR 16.25 crore – the highest-ever fee paid
for a player.
Well played Sanju Samson,
a great innings – but not a win for Rajasthan Royals which was within the reach
of a single shot.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
13.4.2021.
No comments:
Post a Comment