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Seddon Park stadium in Hamilton became the epicenter of an unexpected and entertaining incident during the second T20I of the thrilling five-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan on January 14. The match, which started with a fiery display of batting prowess by the Kiwi players, took an amusing turn when Daryl Mitchell’s powerful straight six not only crossed the boundary rope but also found its target on the camera beyond, eliciting an unforgettable reaction from Pakistan’s former captain, Babar Azam.
The toss and the Kiwi onslaught
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Pakistan aimed to put New Zealand under pressure. However, the Kiwi batters had other plans, as they unleashed a relentless assault with the bat, posting an impressive total of 194/8 in their 20 overs. Finn Allen played a stellar innings, contributing 74 runs off 41 balls, while Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell also made valuable contributions with 26 (15) and 17 (10) runs, respectively. Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi were the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3/38 and 2/43, respectively.
Mitchell’s moment of glory: Ball hits the camera
Amidst the aggressive batting display, Mitchell had his moment of glory when he smashed a colossal stroke off Abbas over a long period of time. The ball sailed over the bowler’s head and, to everyone’s surprise, made direct contact with the camera stationed beyond the cushions. The cameraman, visibly perturbed, expressed his discontent until the unexpected happened.
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Babar Azam’s viral reaction wins hearts
As the camera took the brunt of Mitchell’s powerful hit, Babar immediately approached the disgruntled cameraman. What transpired next was not a perfect moment of sporting camaraderie as the former Pakistan captain shared a light-hearted exchange with the cameraman, diffusing the tension with a few words and a friendly handshake. The incident quickly spread across social media platforms, becoming a viral sensation.
Here’s the video:
Daryl Mitchell broke the camera with his mandatory straight six and the Cameraman is clearly not happy with it 😭 pic.twitter.com/021r9COizd
— Yash (@CSKYash_) January 14, 2024
Ball hitting on camera 🎥
Babar Azam asking from cameraman that is he ok and a high five 🙌 ❤️
What a great gesture from KING 👑 #PAKvNZ #PAKvsNZ #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/xl749SzK9w
— Sami Nadeem (@Sami_ullah_1234) January 14, 2024