New Zealand were put into bat by Sri Lanka at Eden Park in Auckland in the first ODI of the three-match series and got off to a quick start with the scoreboard reading 21-0 after 2.3 overs. Both the openers, Allen and debutant Chad Bowes had hit a couple of boundaries each.

The conditions were decent for the quicks though and Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka were getting the new ball to shape. They had just not found their radar before Rajitha delivered a peach in the 16th ball of the innings.

An ideal outswinger from a right-arm pacer to a right-hand batter – starting on middle and off, pitching on a good length, squaring up the batter, and clipping the top of off. It was a dream delivery in every essence and the familiar woody sound that came as it passed Allen’s bat made everyone believe that Sri Lanka had made their first breakthrough. Until they realised they hadn’t.

“Bowled him! No, he hasn’t.” was the commentator’s first reaction. The ball had kissed the outside half of Allen’s off stump alright, but the bails did not fall, leaving everyone in disbelief and Allen thanking the cricket gods.

It turned out to be an important moment in the context of the game as Allen eventually ended up top-scoring for New Zealand with a 49-ball 51, taking them to a competitive total of 274.

Watch: Ball clips Finn Allen’s off stump, bails don’t fall

https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1639450145841639424?s=20