The 'turning' point

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Durban

Shwe Wai

May 2, 2009

	The Kumble roar: Reserved only for the tensest moments and mostly, when he has got rid of pesky big-hitters © AFP

The action of the night was Anil Kumble v Yuvraj Singh. It lasted just six balls but it was not only riveting but a match-turning event.

"He is a great bowler," Yuvraj, the Kings XI Punjab captain, said later. "I was the one set. I should have stayed longer. I can't blame anyone else for losing the match." Kumble, the latest Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, knew if that they got Yuvraj's wicket, the match could be in the pocket.

The contest actually began in the previous game between the two. With 66 runs required in 36 balls, Kumble came on to bowl his last over. A couple of balls into the over, he sensed Yuvraj was intent on just playing him out and started to tempt him with flighted googlies and floaters. Yuvraj resisted the bait, even padding up one, and the game was won next over when Ravi Bopara got stuck into Praveen Kumar.

Today, the battle came down to Kumble's googlies against Yuvraj's signature slog-sweeps. Yuvraj won the first round, welcoming Kumble into the attack with a big swipe out of the park. He tried to repeat the shot for the next two balls but didn't connect well. He steadied himself with a copy-book forward-defensive stroke before swinging the next over square leg again. Game on. Mark Boucher ran to Kumble, who kept staring ahead, entrenched in his bubble. It was pure drama.