First Time Ever in T20 Cricket! Two Retired-Out Batters called back, match ends with a shocking twist

In a T20 match, the first instance of retiring two batsmen took place on the 4th of January. New Zealand’s Super Smash competition saw the Northern Districts bring back Jeet Raval and Xavier Bell, who were slowly scoring runs against Otago Volts. The replacements of the two players managed to score runs quickly and tie the game.

This is the first occurrence in men’s T20 cricket of two batters retiring out in a single inning. The aforementioned scenario of two batsmen retiring out in one match happened in the Vitality Blast in England in 2022, but they were in separate innings.

Northen Districts’ tactical retirements lead to nail-biting finish

At the venue of Mount Maunganui, Raval was the first one to be retired out during the match. Initially, he was 23 not out after facing 28 balls. He was sent off before the starting of the 17th over. His companion Bell was also retired out in the following over. He was having a hard time scoring only nine runs from 13 balls. Ben Pomare and Scott Kuggeleijn were the ones who took their places. The two of them started their innings with maximum hits.

Kuggeleijn’s late onslaught nearly pulls off dramatic last-over chase

Captain Pomare, who substituted Raval, smote a six off the bowler Danru Ferns, who is a fast bowler. He got out for 20 runs from 10 balls. Kuggelein scored a six off Jack Gibson as soon as he entered the ground. The Northern Districts had to get 19 runs in the last over. Tim Pringle got a single from the first ball. The delivery bowled was a beamer and therefore declared a no-ball. Kugelin, who was now on strike, managed to hit three fours in the next five deliveries.

Only three runs were required to win the match from the last ball. Kugelin was able to run for two runs only on this delivery. His score was not out 34 off 12 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes.

R Ashwin’s IPL moment helps normalise retired out strategy

The number of retire out in T20 cricket has been increasing over the past few years, and this has become one of the trends of T20 cricket. Now, the emphasis is on quick runs rather than on saving wickets. R Ashwin, for example, retired himself out during the IPL, and this has made the practice widespread ever since.