That’s not cricket. Although, actually, it is literally cricket.
A truly freakish moment of misfortune led to poor Warwick batsman Ryan Sidebottom’s dismissal in the County Championship.
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The moment came when Sidebottom’s attempted shot clattered off the helmet of Durham’s short-leg fielder – sending it up into the air and plopping back down into the hands of spin bowler Axar Patel.
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While the moment was tough for Sidebottom, 29, it was fortunate for Patel on a prolific day for the Indian.
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Patel took seven wickets and conceded just 54 runs at Edgbaston, where the hosts were eventually all out for 199.
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Unfortunately for Warwick, who are chasing promotion from Division Two, Patel’s bowling coupled with resolute batting meant Durham were able to close out the session with a draw.
The tie keeps Warwickshire at the top of the table, but cuts their lead to seven points – meanwhile, Durham are in eighth.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Mark Chapman cashed in on three dropped catches and smashed 87 not out off 42 balls as understrength New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20 to level the five-match series at 1-1 on Sunday.
Chapman and Dean Foxcroft (31) shared a century stand for the third wicket and New Zealand reached 179-3 in 18.2 overs, only a day after the visitors were bundled out for 90 runs to lose the second game by seven wickets.
An inexperienced Black Caps bowling attack, that featured debutant fast bowlers Will O’Rourke and Zak Foulkes, had earlier pinned down Pakistan to 178-4 after Michael Bracewell won the toss and chose to field first.
It was an impressive performance by New Zealand which showed its bench strength after nine of its frontline players were unavailable because of the Indian Premier League.
“Really happy with the way guys put the learnings from last night,” Bracewell said. “I think the way Ish (Sodhi) bowled in the middle (overs) was outstanding… (and) the partnership between Foxy and Chapman was outstanding.”
Pakistan’s batting mainstays -- captain Babar Azam (37) and Mohammad Rizwan (22) -- couldn’t convert good starts with Rizwan forced to retire hurt (right hamstring) midway through the innings.
Pakistan felt Rizwan’s absence in the field too when makeshift wicketkeeper Usman Khan dropped one of the three catching chances of Chapman, who smashed nine fours and four sixes.
“Maybe we were 10 runs short,” Babar said. “We started well with the ball in the first six overs, but when you drop a set batter’s catch then he will take away the game from you. Chapman has always done well against us.”
New Zealand lost both its openers within the powerplay as Tim Siefert was bowled by Abbas Afridi (2-27) off a delivery that kept low and Naseem Shah got Tim Ribinson’s middle stump uprooted with a brutal yorker.
But Chapman then took control against Pakistan spinners Abrar Ahmed (0-31) and Shadab Khan (0-24) before he cut loose against Naseem (1-44) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-37) in the death overs.
Chapman had scored his career-best unbeaten 104 at the same Pindi Cricket Stadium last year when New Zealand drew the T20 series 2-2. He smashed Naseem for two sixes and two fours in one over to raise the century stand in the 16th over before Foxcroft top edged a pull against Abbas in his return spell with the Black Caps needing only nine for victory.
Earlier, New Zealand was also scrappy in the field when Seifert dropped Saim Ayub (32) down the legside in the second over as the left-hander provided Pakistan with a brisk start of 54-0 in the power play.
Ayub also successfully overturned an lbw decision against him before leg-spinner Sodhi (2-25) stemmed the flow of runs soon after the power play when he had Ayub caught in the outfield.
Bracewell, who bowled two overs of off spin in the power play, returned and took the prized wicket of Babar when the Pakistan skipper offered a tame catch at backward point.
Shadab Khan’s brisk 41 off 20 balls lifted Pakistan’s total that included 19 runs in Bracewell’s last over of his spell but not before Cole McConchie had dropped Shadab early in his knock.
The five-match series now moves to Lahore which hosts the remaining two games on Thursday and Saturday.
The first match was washed out at Rawalpindi with only two balls bowled.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Saim Ayub during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan's Shadab Khan plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Usman Khan during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Tim Robinson is bowled out by Pakistan's Naseem Shah during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Tim Seifert, left, reacts after he bowled out by Pakistan's Abbas Afridi, center, during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Tim Robinson plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Mark Chapman, left, and James Neesham, right, shake hand with Pakistan's Shadab Khan on the end of play of the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Dean Foxcroft, right, plays shot as Pakistan' Usman Khan watches during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Mark Chapman, left, and Dean Foxcroft run between the wickets during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Dean Foxcroft during the second T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tim Seifert during the second T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
