Watch: Ashish Nehra takes on New Zealand’s fastest bowler, Shane Bond, with a swipe for a massive six over mid-wicket in this Test match from 2002 in Hamilton.
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There are few more pleasing sights on a cricket field than a tailender going for one of his agricultural slogs against a fiery fast bowler who has just cleaned up the side’s top-order.
In 2002, arguably the best of those rare sights unfolded in Hamilton in a low-scoring Test between India and New Zealand. Coming into the Test, India had lost by 10 wickets at Wellington and the top-order had found batting quite tough. Put in to bat on a wet Hamilton morning, a day after the Test was supposed to happen with day one washed out, India were reduced to 92-8 at stumps on day two.
Early on day three, India lost Parthiv Patel and Nehra was joined by Tinu Yohannan. Bond, with figures of 3-33 till that point, aimed for Nehra’s throat and was met by a swift pull, one that met the ball perfectly and sent it sailing into the grassbanks at Seddon Park.
Bond had found his match!
The fun didn’t last long, though, as Bond had Nehra caught in the slips two balls later.
Watch the epic six from Nehra here:
Happy birthday Ashish Nehra! Everybody posting his 6-23 v Eng from 2003 World Cup but how about this thug life pull of Shane Bond for 6 in his own backyard? 😎 Nehra ji can do it all 😈 pic.twitter.com/10ekvn55sc
— Mainak Sinha🏏📽️ (@cric_archivist) April 29, 2020