A pre-delivery run out at the non-striker’s end brought about a dramatic twist to the Afghanistan–New Zealand U19 match that narrowly went New Zealand’s way, during the ongoing 2024 U19 World Cup.
Having fallen into a tangle against Afghanistan’s spinners, New Zealand were challenged throughout their pursuit of a paltry 92. When they had slipped to 82-8, the match looked set for a photo finish.
Matt Rowe, their five-wicket hero in the first innings, combined with No.10 Ewald Schreuder to push them close, but in a sensational twist, was left needing to do a job with the bat with one wicket remaining. Captain and bowler Naseer Khan Maroofkhil switched the ball to his right hand, his non-bowling arm, and whipped off the bails, running out Schreuder pre-delivery with two needed to win. Having backed up too far, Schreuder stared at the bowler in surprise, but replays confirmed his slip-up. The looks of shock in the Kiwi dugout said it all.
The run out left New Zealand nine down. Rowe didn’t let the nerves get to him, tapping the ball away for a couple of runs to clinch a one-wicket win.
It was four years ago that another Afghanistan left-arm spinner, Noor Ahmad, created waves during the U19 World Cup in the same country, running out Pakistan’s Mohammad Huraira the same way. Since then, the pre-delivery run out – earlier commonly known as the Mankad – has been legitimised, and is becoming an increasingly common and accepted mode of dismissal.
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Earlier, Rowe claimed a five-wicket haul to bundle out Afghanistan for 91, only two bowlers managing double-digit scores. In response, New Zealand were undone by 16-year-old Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar’s mystery spin – they lost Tom Jones and Oliver Tewatiya off back-to-back deliveries, leaving New Zealand in a mire.
Skipper Oscar Jackson was the only one who crossed 20, pushing New Zealand out of a hole, but he was the eighth wicket to fall. If Afghanistan had squeezed out a win, the ninth wicket would have been discussed a lot more.
