MATCH STORIES
Follow UsWith the sun shining, the conditions on Saturday (January 27) were perhaps the best ever in this day-night clash for the batters of the West Indies. The lead was already well over the 150-run mark, and Australia were running out of ideas.
Even the introduction of Nathan Lyon didn’t result in a whole lot of action, barring the wicket of Alick Athanaze. Till then, Kavem Hodge had already frustrated the hosts, taming the ball like a bull, including leaving deliveries that weren’t going to hit the stumps.
But Hodge's judgement wasn't the best in his short stay at the crease. Twice in his innings, the right-hander went on his back foot only to leave two ‘dangerous’ deliveries from Lyon. Not only did he wince in pain, but it also broke any sort of momentum with which he was batting at the crease.
Only a few deliveries after he was hit the second time, Hodge was involved in one of the unluckiest dismissals in recent time in international cricket. The right-handed Hodge went on his back foot, flicking the ball straight into the hands of the short-in fielder Travis Head.
Till then, everything was normal. But then Head’s reflexes took over.
Head, fielding at short-leg, reacted ever-so-quickly to throw the ball back at the stumps, catching Hodge by total surprise. In fact, the Windies batter almost was out on a stroll at the park before realising that a throw was coming towards his stumps.
Even then, Hodge had done it all to prevent the suicidal run-out, but then luck didn’t favour him. The bat jammed on the ground and popped up, meaning his efforts weren’t materialising into anything. In the end, the bat was in the air, with Head’s throw eventually undoing all his hard work at the crease here in Brisbane.
To his disbelief, the 30-year-old was on his knees, staring into heaven. He couldn’t quite believe his fate as the Australian huddle broke out into a celebration. It was all a result of Head’s proactiveness, not for the first time in this series.
