A bizarre incident unfolded at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban when a local fan made headlines after claiming a match ball that ended up on the streets following a massive six by South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton. On the final ball of the fourth over, Rickelton launched Avesh Khan’s delivery for an enormous 104-meter six that soared out of the ground, landing on a nearby street.
The unexpected twist came when a fan on the street spotted the ball, scooped it up, and decided to keep it for himself. Despite efforts by security personnel to retrieve the ball, the fan refused to hand it over, quickly becoming an internet sensation. Videos of the fan’s sprint to keep his newfound treasure circulated widely, sparking plenty of laughter and adding an unusual storyline to the match.
WATCH – Suryakumar Yadav’s Dismissal Marks Unforgettable 11-Ball Over By Patrick Kruger
Rickelton, looking in fine form, recorded the biggest six of the evening before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy. Attempting to clear the ropes again on the second ball of the sixth over, Rickelton mistimed his shot, offering a simple catch to Tilak Varma.
With that swing, it’s never just a hit…it’s always a SIX! 🤯🚀
Catch the 1st #SAvIND T20I LIVE on #JioCinema, #Sports18, and #ColorsCineplex! 👈#TeamIndia #JioCinemaSports #RyanRickelton pic.twitter.com/iDUr06cJvN
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 8, 2024
This is hilarious During India vs South Africa a fan took the ball and ran away with it after the batter hit a six the security chased him and tried getting it back from him 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/XNJeH6bRai
— Sports Spotlight (@SSpotlight71) November 8, 2024
In terms of the match itself, India, having opted to bat first, posted a challenging total of 202 runs. Sanju Samson led the charge with his second consecutive T20I century, becoming the first Indian to achieve back-to-back centuries in the format.
ALSO READ: Netizens Celebrate Sanju Samson’s Historic Back-to-Back Centuries Against South Africa
However, despite Samson’s stellar performance, India’s total fell roughly 20 runs short of the anticipated score, as other batters struggled to contribute significantly. At the latest update, South Africa had reached 76/3 after nine overs, needing 127 runs off the remaining 66 balls to secure a win.
