The New Zealand cricketers, Tom Blundell and Scott Kuggeleijn managed to recreate the embarrassing missed catch by Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik in the ongoing Test match between New Zealand and England on Friday. The two Kiwi fielders waited for each other and did not attempt an easy catch as the ball landed between them.
On the final ball of the 14th over in England’s second innings, night watchman Stuart Broad mistimed a short ball from Scott Kuggeleijn. The ball went pretty high up in the air but did not get any distance, eventually falling near the pitch.
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Wicket-keeper Tom Blundell and bowler Kuggeleijn were both half-heartedly interested in going for a catch. In the end, none of the two players called for the catch as a comedy of errors transpired at the Bay Oval.
Here is the video of the missed catch by Scott Kuggeleijn and Tom Blundell:
Village. Village. Village.
For you see this is the psychological effect the Night Hawk has on you.
A battle you simply won't win…#NZvENG pic.twitter.com/dfF5mg2A6E
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 17, 2023
The moment reminded fans of Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal, who created a similar comedy of errors after West Indies’ Chris Gayle smacked the ball high up in the air in an ODI between Pakistan and West Indies in 2008.
We have seen this before pic.twitter.com/McJnA0RkAq
— Ugma Ram (@ugma_ram_) February 17, 2023
While there was some miscommunication between Tom Blundell and Scott Kuggeleijn on the field on Frodya, the two players made a brilliant partnership of 52 runs for the eighth wicket in New Zealand’s first innings.
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Blundell played the aggressor’s role, while Scott Kuggeleijn supported him with a decent knock of 20 runs. Their partnership took the New Zealand team’s score to 234/8 from 182/7. Ollie Robinson rattled Kuggeleijn’s stumps, however, Blundell anchored his innings well from one end till the final ball of the Kiwi innings to complete his hundred.
At the end of Day 2 at the Bay Oval, England lead by 98 runs with eight wickets in hand in the second innings. It will be interesting to see how many runs the visitors add to their lead tomorrow.
