In a bizarre incident at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, play was halted for few minutes after umpire Aleem Dar noticed that the 30-yard circle has not been marked properly. The incident took place after the first over of the second ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand. Umpire Dar noticed that the 30-yard circle has not been measured properly and directed the ground staff to fix it.
“This is interesting. We are changing the 30-yard circle. I have never seen this happen before,” one of the commentators said as he was surprised by the series of events.
Another commentator poked fun at the authorities as she said, “They got the wrong measuring tape out earlier.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had a conversation with Dar about the incident. Pakistan fielders helped the ground staff as well to lay out the markers. The video has been making rounds on social media as an incident as bizarre as this is not expected at an international event.
The play resumed in six minutes after the 30-yard circle was marked as 20-year-old Ihsanullah bowled his first over on ODI debut.
Earlier, Azam won the toss and opted to field first. Haris Rauf got rid of both openers Will Young (19) and Chad Bowes (51) but Daryl Mitchell continued his stupendous form and scored his second century of the series.
Mitchell scored 129 runs from 119 deliveries including eight fours and three sixes. Mitchell broke his own record of highest individual score by a New Zealand batter on Pakistan soil. He shared a 183-run partnership for third wicket with skipper Tom Latham. The wicketkeeper-batter missed his century by just two runs. Latham scored 98 runs from 85 deliveries including eight fours and one six.
Rauf took four wickets and conceded 78 runs in his full quota of 10 overs. On-debut Ihsanullah failed to make a mark and conceded 60 runs from eight overs as the visitors posted a daunting total of 336/5 on the board.
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