Watch: Adam Finch of Worcestershire was run out in bizarre fashion during a County Championship Division Two match against Yorkshire.

Asked to bat at New Road, Yorkshire rode on an opening stand of 177 between Adam Lyth (79) and Finlay Bean (135) to post 407 as Adam Finch claimed 5-100.

Ben Coad (5-33) and Mark Steketee (3-55) then reduced the hosts to 179-9 before No.10 Finch (24) and No.11 Ben Gibbon (41 not out) added 63 for the last wicket. In the process, they delayed Yorkshire’s quest for victory by two hours, and kept the bowlers on the field for longer.

When Yorkshire enforced the follow-on, Worcestershire sent Finch and Gibbon to open the batting. They played out nine overs, and Worcestershire ended the day on 22-0.

The first two overs of day four passed without incident. Finch and Gibbon had pushed the score to 31-0 when Matthew Fisher ran in to bowl the third over of the morning.

Gibbon defended the ball, but it rolled – perhaps off the inside edge – towards Mark Steketee at short mid-wicket. By then, Finch had start bolting towards the other end, only to be sent back by Gibbon.

Finch turned around and slipped, but despite having all the time in the world, Steketee attempted a direct hit… and missed.

By the time all this took place, James Wharton, the fielder backing up, had come close to the stumps. He deflected the ball towards the stumps at the non-striker’s end with his shin, only to find Fisher’s legs in the way.

By the time all this took place, Finch was up on his feet. As he bolted for the crease, Fisher, who had controlled the ball with the aplomb of a professional footballer, picked up the ball, and knocked a stump out of the ground. The umpire, who had somehow maintained composure amidst all this, ruled Finch run out.

Ben Coad took out Gibbon in the next over. Worcestershire were 49-2 when rain stopped play. They need another 116 to avoid the innings defeat.

Watch Adam Finch’s run out in the County Championship:

This is the most chaotic run out we've ever seen! To recap:

•Adam Finch slips
•Mark Steketee throws the ball
•James Wharton deflects it back to the stumps with his shin
•Matthew Fisher takes a Messi-esque touch to complete the run out#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/IioLmFYWhy

— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 13, 2023