Zimbabwe batsman Johnathan Campbell was dismissed even before opening his account in the ongoing first T20I against India as the visitors put themselves in the driving seat 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 had dismissed Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. The onus of steadying the home side’s fortunes fell on Dion Myers and Campbell.
However, Campbell was dismissed on the first ball he faced due to a bizarre mix-up. Both batsmen ended up at the striker’s end and Campbell had to go out to fetch a delivery. The Zimbabwe batsman played Avesh’s delivery to the off-side and Myers started running from the non-striker’s end.
Campbell also showed some interest by taking a couple of steps before changing his mind. By then, Myers was already well out of his crease and decided to run on as both batsmen ended up at the same end. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar fielded the ball and threw it to Avesh, who had all the time in the world to remove the straps from the non-batsman’s end.
Watch Johnathan Campbell’s bizarre escape:
photo.twitter.com/zgNnMGuXQb
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Talking about the game, Zimbabwe were trailing 89/7 in the 15th over at the time of writing this report. Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first in the series opener at the Harare Sports Club. India got off to a good start with the ball as Mukesh Kumar struck at his first delivery to send Innocent Kaia back to the pitch.
Brian Bennett then started on the right foot and got 23 runs in no time thanks to five fours before being dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi in the sixth over. Bennett’s dismissal opened the floodgates as Zimbabwe continued to lose wickets at regular intervals after that.
Wessly Madhevere was next to go, and Bishnoi dismissed him for 21 to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 51 for 3. A 23-run partnership between captain Sikandar Raza (17) and Dion Myers (23) arrested the slide, but things went downhill once again after Avesh Khan sent the former back.
