5 part-time bowlers who ended a big innings in ODIs

After being on top of his game for the most part of the innings, one thing that’d make a high-scorer cringe is giving away his wicket to a non-regular bowler. A lapse in concentration, encountering a new style of bowling, or the general attacking instinct to dominate a part-timer on the part of the batsman, all help such bowlers fill their wicket columns. The statement holds true even more in limited overs, when a batsman hardly has time to get accustomed to a new bowler.

Here are five non-regulars (in no particular order) who gleefully hold the credit of catching big fishes with their uncustomary yet effective bowling:

Vikram SolankiVictim: Sanath Jayasuriya (152)

A handy middle order batsman, the Udaipur born Solanki was part of the English limited overs side for around half a hundred ODIs, but couldn’t bring in consistency in his international game.

Sanath Jayasuriya, undergoing a spirited second life in his international career, was going great guns against England at Leeds in 2006. Opening the innings in pursuit of 323, Jayasuriya bludgeoned his way past a quickfire 100, when Strauss decided to test out Solanki’s off spin.

It paid dividends, as Solanki accounted for Jayasuriya after the latter had gone past 150. It turned out to be Solanki’s first, and only wicket in international cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar

Victim: Saeed Anwar (194)

Tendulkar could conjure up magic with the ball as well.

Famous for providing Pakistan with starts in the first fifteen overs, Saeed Anwar was one of Pakistan’s most dependable openers. Vivian Richards’ 13 year old record was quashed by Anwar, Indian bowling’s perennial nemesis, in 1997.

Batting with a runner for most part of his innings, Anwar focussed on getting the boundaries, and was able to achieve them at a surprisingly good rate. He singled out Anil Kumble for special treatment, plundering 24 runs from one of his overs. Anwar looked unstoppable in the middle, untroubled by the Indian bowling, which looked sapped out and insipid by the final half.

It was up to the Sachin Tendulkar, the skipper, to end the onslaught. Famous for his golden arm, which was a partnership breaker on many occasions, Tendulkar brought an end to Anwar’s epic knock. He slid one of his off-breaks on the leg stump, inviting Anwar to sweep. The ball caught a leading edge, and was brilliantly taken by a tumbling Sourav Ganguly at fine leg.

Incidentally, it was Tendulkar who eventually broke Anwar’s joint-record, scoring the first ODI double hundred, 13 years later.

Sourav Ganguly:

Victim: Sanath Jayasuriya (189)

Ganguly was an effective bowler in conducive conditions.

Sanath Jayasuriya, when at his fluent best, had the arsenal to decimate the best of bowling attacks. He had a particular liking to the Indian attack, which was highlighted by his mammoth 340 against the same opposition in a Test in 1997.

In the Coca Cola Champions Trophy final in 2000, Jayasuriya made a mockery of the bowling attack, compiling a mammoth 189 that powered Sri Lanka to 299.

Looking set to usurp Anwar’s 194, Jayasuriya took guard in the 48th over, when he saw Ganguly bringing himself on, for the first time in the innings. On the second delivery of the over, Ganguly hurled the ball wide of the off stump. Jayasuriya came down the track and tried to chase it, but ended up missing it completely. Nayan Mongia, standing up to the wicket, gathered the ball and dismantled the stumps in a jiffy. The partnership-breaker had done it again, but it turned out to be too little, too late.

Hamilton Masakadza

Victim: Chris Gayle (215)

Masakadza brought an end to Gayle’s mammoth knock.

Chris Gayle is a moody and unpredictable person. Coming into the World Cup last year, his poor form made critics question his place in a young West Indian side. He answered them in his own style, blasting the fastest ODI double century, massacring the Zimbabwean attack beyond repair.

His 215 was brought to an end my Hamilton Masakadza, the seventh bowler to be tried by Elton Chigumbura.

Marlon Samuels

Victim: Mark Waugh (173)

Samuels was banned from bowling after his action was found to be illegal.

The younger Waugh, known for his elegant strokeplay, could dominate the best of bowling attacks on his day. And that is exactly what he did against the Windies attack in the Carlton Cup finals in 2001, compiling a career best 173, and the-then highest by an Australian in ODIs.

Although he started off unconvincingly, he found his rhythm, and how, punishing an inconsistent set of bowlers. It required the dibbly-dobbly off-spin of a young Marlon Samuels to end the torment for the visitors.