The third innings of Yorkshire’s Bob Willis Trophy clash against Nottinghamshire came to a bizarre conclusion, with Dominic Leech apparently hitting the ball straight to slip but declining to walk.

The Yorkshire No.10 reverse-swept a ball from Notts’ off-spinner Matt Carter, but hit the ball too fine, with Steven Mullaney seemingly taking the ball cleanly. Mullaney and keeper Tom Moores appealed, more out of courtesy than anything else, but looked bemused after Leech stood his ground and the umpire chose not to raise his finger.

To make matters all the more confusing, it turned out Leech actually had been given out, as the umpire set off for the changing rooms. The players exchanged quizzical looks, before following him on his way.

Nottinghamshire fast bowler Stuart Broad, away on England duty but following the game from afar, soon chimed in. Trent Bridge, Broad’s home ground, was also where he had ‘smashed it to slip’ and not walked during the 2013 Ashes.

But, although the ball was edged by Broad and did eventually end up in the hands of Michael Clarke, stationed next to Brad Haddin, it only reached its final destination after a healthy deflection off the keeper’s gloves.

Broad pointed out the difference between the two incidences. “At last, someone’s actually hit it to slip & not walked at Trent Bridge…” he tweeted.

At last, someone’s actually hit it to slip & not walked at Trent Bridge…

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 11, 2020

The odd moment mattered little come the end of the game, with Yorkshire bowling out Notts for 97 in the fourth innings to seal a comfortable win.