Did Axar Patel take one of the most bizarre catches you’ve ever seen in first-class cricket – off his own bowling?
The Indian left-arm spinner completed a seven-wicket haul, his best figures on first-class cricket, during Warwickshire’s second innings at Edgbaston.
Patel removed number 11 Ryan Sidebottom to complete the haul – but what made the ball so significant?
Sidebottom’s attempted shot into the leg side cannons off Will Smith’s helmet at short leg & rebounds straight into the hands of the bowler.
What the…?@akshar2026 finishes with seven & Durham need 218 to win#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/Ro4MfODScz
— Durham CCC ? (@DurhamCricket) September 7, 2018
The law changed last year to ensure the catch was valid, rather than a dead ball like it would have been previously.
Remarkably, it’s not the first time it’s happened to a Durham side this season.
Chris McBride did the same during the Second XI’s Championship game against MCC Young Cricketers at South Northumberland, with the ball rebounding back to bowler George Harding.
Bowled: @GHarding96
Caught: @GHarding96
Assist: @Mcbride99Chris?☝️ pic.twitter.com/H2ia46w611
— Durham CCC ? (@DurhamCricket) July 10, 2018