Zimbabwean batsman Jonathan Campbell was run out before scoring a run in the first T20I against India, with the visiting team taking the lead at the Harare Sports Club.
Campbell came out to bat in the 12th over with his team trailing 74-4. On the fifth ball of the over, Avesh Khan ran out Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. It was up to Dion Myers and Campbell to steady the ship for the home team.
But Campbell was run out on the first ball he faced due to a strange mix-up. Both batsmen ended up on the striker’s side and Campbell had to leave for a duck. The Zimbabwean batsman threw Abeshi’s ball to the off-side and Myers started running on the non-striker’s side.
Campbell also showed some interest, taking a few steps before changing his mind. By then Myers was well clear of the crease and decided to keep running as the two batsmen reached the same end. In the meantime, Washington Sundar caught the ball and threw it to Abeshi, who had just enough time to unfurl it on the non-striker’s side.
Watch Jonathan Campbell’s bizarre escape:
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As for the match, at the time of writing this report, Zimbabwe were 89/7 in the 15th over. Shubman Gill won the title and chose to bowl first in the series opener at the Harare Sports Club. India got off to a good start when Mukesh Kumar hit the ball on the first delivery, sending Innocent Kaia back to the dugout.
Brian Bennett started positively, putting on 23 runs in quick time thanks to five fours before being run out by Ravi Bishnoi in the sixth over. Bennett’s dismissal opened the floodgates as Zimbabwe lost wickets regularly thereafter.
Wessly Madhevere was next and Bishnoi dismissed him for 21 runs to shake Zimbabwe to a 51-3 win. A 23-run gap between captain Sikandar Raza (17) and Dion Myers (23) curbed the rot but things got worse again after Avesh Khan sent the former back.
