The India-Sri Lanka ODI was an extremely nail biting match for supporters of both teams. The set target was great and the chase even better! iSporter Issac John gives a unique angle and take on 'run-outs' and how they can make or break the match.
Almost every cricket analyst on television pointed out that the turning point of yesterday’s victory against SL was Dilshan’s wicket. The Lankans were cruising towards victory when Dilshan was castled with the score at 339.
While it is absolutely rational to think that Dilshan’s departure opened the doors of victory for India, there was another element in the match that conspicuously slipped in and opened that door wider – the subsequent run-out of Jayawardene. The point being not so much about the batsman per se but the mode of dismissal: run- out!
A run-out has the most instant impact on the morale of the entire fielding side and more so in close ODI’s like yesterday’s. To begin with, the fielders seem to think one of their own has affected it – it’s an accomplishment shared by the team unlike a brilliant piece of bowling that has seen the middle stump uprooted which works more as an individual accomplishment. Or for that matter even a perfect outswinger that finds the way to the keeper’s hands – again a private celebration between the wicket-keeper and the bowler.
The next time around a bowler bowls a batsman with a perfect yorker, notice how the team reacts in celebrating compared to a brilliant pickup and throw from a fielder that has resulted in a run-out. Invariably, more fielders will flock around the fielder than the bowler. It’s the manner of drama in which a run-out comes out, that accentuates it. In a yorker, the moment is over even before one realizes it. In a run-out the entire team is waiting to see if the bails are taken off in time and if they are – ah what joy! In corporate parlance, the run-out is akin to a bonus – everyone waits for it but no one’s sure if he’s getting it until a lot of factors come together.
Run-outs begin the slide of a batting team. In the 1975 World Cup final, a young Viv Richards ran out Alan Turner at the score on 81-1 in – a very healthy start en route to a chase of 291 in 60 overs. That Richards was again involved in two subsequent run-outs is another story but the flood gates were clearly opened with the fillip that the run-out gave to the fielding side. Here were Julien, Roberts, Boyce and Holder trying to dislodge the obstinate pair of Ian Chappell and Alan Turner and just when it seemed the duo were negotiating the quartet at ease, comes the run-out.
Run-outs have a debilitating kind of an effect- they just don’t take away a wicket – they mentally disrupt the batting team’s composure and plans. For instance, the run-out of Virendra Sehwag in the 2003 World Cup final. While clouds surfaced over the venue, a billion prayers went up hoping for a miracle that India would nose ahead in terms of D/L requirement. What began with a 7.19 runs per over chase was reasonably placed with Sehwag blazing away in a 88-run partnership with a sedate but solid Dravid at the other end. The score – a respectable 147 for 3 at 6.21 runs per over. Just then Darren Lehmann caught Sehwag out of the crease at the non-striker’s end and India folded up in less than 40 overs.
Run-outs make the bowling side look awfully good as a team. The celebrations clearly indicate often – “thank God we got that run-out, we would’ve had trouble getting him but now we’ve a new batsman and we will get him!” Probably that’s why when Brian Charles Lara was run-out after a most fluent 277 at the Sydney Cricket Ground against a more than decent Australian bowling unit, the commentator said – “ Well... frankly that was the only way they could’ve got him !”
Run-out is also a sign of panic setting in- giving all the more reason for the fielding unit to believe that they’re on top. In what probably is still the best ODI match ever played - the 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa, Cullinan, one of the most experienced of the lot, was run-out by Bevan leaving the Proteas reeling at 61-4. It did not end there. Everyone remembers Allan Donald getting run-out but let it not be forgotten Steve Elworthy was the 9th wicket that had fallen. His mode of dismissal – a run-out!
Run-outs seal a game. Back home, in what is still our sweetest one-day victory on home soil, Jadeja had done his bit with his bat flaying Waqar Younis all over the park in the 1996 World-Cup quarter-final but Pakistan was making a match of it. Venkatesh Prasad made us rise up in our seats uprooting Aamir Sohail’s off-stump but couldn’t prevent us from chewing our nails while old fox Miandad was nudging his way out to take Pakistan closer to the target. Wise men in our family cautioned - “It’s early to celebrate. Miandad has done it before. He can do it today as well.” At 239-7, the old fox was run-out !
Coming back to yesterday’s match, after Jayawardene’s departure, Sri Lanka was still very much in the hunt. Sri Lanka crossed 400 and needed 15 runs with 5 wickets in hand. And then 2 more run-outs in the 49th over – the game was sealed !
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