The record-breaking T20I encounter between South Africa and West Indies had everything, but one of the game’s highlights concerned Rovman Powell and the ball boys at Centurion.
When West Indies posted their highest score in the format, 258-5, largely thanks to Johnson Charles’ 45-ball 118 – they would have felt on top going into the Proteas’ chase.
Quinton de Kock had other ideas, battering South Africa to 54-0 from just 2.4 overs.
The next delivery would head to the long-off boundary off his bat, causing West Indies skipper Rovman Powell to give chase. Powell’s barrelling presence would be bested by the ball, which hit the boundary Toblerone before he could hit the breaks.
Unfortunately, two ball boys lay in Powell’s path, both narrowly avoiding a dangerous collision with the big Jamaican, largely thanks to an agile sidestep and a sharp dodge by the second of the ball boys.
Powell proceeded to clatter into the LED advertising boards, and, despite being shaken up by the incident, the game continued after a long delay.
De Kock went on to score a maiden T20I ton from just 43 balls, as South Africa completed a remarkable chase with relative ease.
Watch Rovman Powell’s ball boy near-miss here:
Rovman Powell, giving chase at full speed, has done extremely well not to completely wipe out these two kids 😳#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/fNRVqkwg7n
— Daniel (@DanSenior97) March 26, 2023