The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 fixture between Morrisville Samp Army and New York Strikers on Friday ( November 22) at the Zayed Cricket Stadium witnessed a rare and unusual bowling error by Hazrat Bilal.
Hazrat Bilal’s no-ball incident
In the fourth over of the Strikers’ innings, Bilal, making his first appearance with the ball, overstepped the bowling crease by a significant margin while delivering his third ball. The no-ball, which was comically large, became an instant talking point and brought laughter from players on both teams as the replay was displayed on the big screen.
The overstepping was so exaggerated that it appeared as though Bilal had forgotten his run-up’s alignment entirely. The delivery was deemed illegal under cricket regulations, gifting the opposition a free hit. The sheer enormity of the mistake drew laughter from the Strikers’ dugout, where players like Sunil Narine, Evin Lewis and Reece Topley were spotted enjoying the moment. Even the Samp Army captain Faf du Plessis couldn’t resist smiling at the sight of the replay.
Here’s the video:
Hazrat Bilal wouldn’t want to look at that again!🫣
What’s the biggest No-Ball you’ve ever seen in cricket?#ADT10onFanCode pic.twitter.com/Qfinycb2xU
— FanCode (@FanCode) November 22, 2024
Also READ: Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024: Broadcast, live streaming details – When and where to watch in India, South Africa, USA, UK & other countries
Donovan Ferreira capitalizes on the free hit
On the subsequent free-hit delivery, Donovan Ferreira maximized the opportunity, launching a towering six over deep extra cover, adding to Bilal’s frustration. Despite the setback, Bilal managed to claim a wicket in the same over, dismissing Zeeshan Abid. However, his massive no-ball remained the highlight of the match, with clips of the incident quickly going viral on social media. This moment added to the drama of the game, showcasing the fine margins of the fast-paced T10 format. While Bilal expressed visible frustration over the mistake, it didn’t detract from the Samp Army’s overall dominance.
New York Strikers fall short against Morrisville Samp Army despite Amir Hamza’s heroics
The Samp Army’s batting was spearheaded by captain Faf du Plessis, who scored an explosive 75 off 32 balls, including five fours and six sixes. Partnering him was Andries Gous, whose unbeaten 41 off just 16 deliveries featured three boundaries and four sixes. Together, the duo propelled the Samp Army to a formidable total of 135/1 in their allotted 10 overs. Gous particularly shone in the penultimate over, hammering Narine for four sixes in a display of fearless hitting.
Chasing 136, the New York Strikers struggled to find momentum. Kusal Perera’s 20 off nine balls provided a brief spark, but the rest of the lineup faltered under disciplined bowling. Amir Hamza was the standout performer for the Samp Army, picking up three wickets for 22 runs in two overs, while Karim Janat chipped in with two crucial scalps. The Strikers could only manage 99/7 in 10 overs, falling 36 runs short of the target.