VIDEO | Adil Rashid strikes but stubborn bails don’t go off before racing for a boundary
It is often said that a bowler has to work really hard to earn a wicket, but at times, you also need luck going your way. A comedy of errors took place during the World Cup opener between England and South Africa when Adil Rashid outfoxed Quinton de Kock but the bails denied from being disturbed.
After posting a massive total of 311 on the board, England were tightening the noose around South African batsmen with some spin. The Proteas were in hot water after losing Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis cheaply but de Kock was fighting the battle and looked good in the middle. England, on the other hand, were in search of another wicket to push South Africa on the back foot.
On the fifth delivery of the 11th over, Rashid did well to outfox de Kock but the southpaw got a reprieve as the bails didn’t fall. The ball hit the off-stump and lights were lit but instead of a wicket, the delivery resulted in a boundary. England celebrated for a moment but soon realised that the bails didn’t come off, which denied Rashid a wicket.
With South Africa having a mountain to climb at The Oval, it will be interesting to see if de Kock can capitalise on the life he had got and helped his side get as close as possible.