May 10: Ask CSK’s ‘50’ Dwayne Smith – Chennai, the most knowledgeable crowd, loyalties of CSK, and can read even MSD’s mind!

                 

Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Chepauk. This man was wearing yellow at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium and was facing the ‘Blues’. The major difference was he wasn’t one among the masses in the yellow flannels at the Chepauk, he happened to be the ‘50’ of team CSK - Dwayne Smith.

Staying true to his form with the willow, Smith failed to post a big for the 10^th time this season. He managed to score six.

Out came the beefy West Indian to support his bowlers on the field, who were determined to defend a modest 158.

On three occasions, the ‘Doctor’ tested the patience of not just captain cool MSD but the Chennai fans as well with his bizarre fielding. However, he did justice to his talent on a couple of instances at critical junctures. Here are a few moments which proved, yet again, Chennai crowd read the game better and react according to their team’s needs!

1. MSD to Dwayne: ‘This is ground not a bed’ Smith flew across to stop a ball but only managed to stop the pace of it. After falling flat on the ground, the West Indian least bothered to get up and go after the ball. The Watson-Steven Smith duo stole one more run only to elicit a Dhoni-wave of the hand. He told (in action): Get up and chase! – Smith looked bemused.

Crowd:  A roar from the men in yellow outside the boundary the moment they saw Dhoni lose his cool. (As Smith ran back to the boundary): They egged their player on.

2. Dwayne to MSD: ‘I’m back skipper’: Roughly two overs later, the ball trickled past the 30-yard mark. The batsmen were pushing for a second run. The Barbados dasher sprinted in like a panther, picked up the ball in one hand and hurled in a flat throw to the skipper and came up with a tooth paste ad like smile.

MSD: Both hands up and the gloves kissed each other.

Crowd: So did the entire CSK fanatics! And Smith was back on track.

3. Back to square one: MSD to Smith: ‘Enough of this’. Fielding on the sweeper boundary, a lazy-looking Smith let one through his hands for four when the match was in the balance and CSK had just witnessed the Bravo dance after dismissing Watson. MSD: Tighten it up guys.

Crowd: (As Smith walked back to the fence flooded with yellows): No booing, no jeering… It wasn’t the time to boo and dump their star. They were rather worried of Smith getting back his mojo soon. They realised the tense situation and it was their star player!

   

4. Repeat point 3: - Only change on the other side of the ground – deep mid wicket!

5. Dwayne to MSD: ‘This Dwayne too can catch skipper, but can’t dance’: It was the 18^th over. Bravo to Samson. Three balls before, Bravo had spilled a sitter, for  his standards, of a caught and bowled chance. Two balls later, he was smashed over mid-wicket for six. Bravo ran in. Samson mistimed over the covers.

 Crowd: Roar as the ball was hit! (Running for the ball was the villain Dwayne Smith). Silence. Smith gobbled it with aplomb

Dhoni and the entire Stadium erupted in joy. The Royals’ challenge came to an end. Smith had the last laugh. As he walked back to the fence, he was the darling of the masses!                  


                                                                                                        S. Bagawati Prasad
                                                                                                         Baggs blabbers.