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Samit Patel (Image Credit : Twitter/T20 Blast)
In what turned out to be the first instance in the history of the game, two players from either team decided to retire out. The incident happened in the North Group game of the Vitality T20 Blast between Birmingham Bears and Nottinghamshire on June 5. The game was reduced to an eight-over affair owing to the rain. The Green Brigade won the toss and elected to field first.
The Birmingham Bears had a poor start as they lost the wicket of Paul Stirling on the first ball. Jacob Bethell and Chris Benjamin scored a quick 36 runs in just 2.4 overs before the former got out to Samit Patel. Adam Hose came in and added another 24 runs in two overs with Benjamin before the latter became the second victim of Patel.
At this stage, skipper Carlos Braithwaite came out to bat and scored a quick 11-ball 17. However, at the end of the seventh over, the 2016 20-20 World Cup winner decided to retire out. Sam Hain came out to bat but didn't face a single ball. The team finished 98/5 at the end of the innings.
Watch the video here
Tactical masterstroke? 🤔
Carlos Brathwaite retires out to be replaced by Sam Hain for the final over!
Watch it unfold LIVE: https://t.co/ScNplvlY5n#Blast22 pic.twitter.com/RwCKpCVPSK
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 5, 2022
In reply, Nottinghamshire also lost their opening batter in the first ball of the innings. Joe Clarke was caught by Craig Miles off Olly Stone. Alex Hales and Ben Duckett stitched a partnership of 55 runs in just 3.2 overs. The latter was dismissed by Jake Lintott and he caught Hales off his own bowling in the same over.
Tom Morres and skipper Daniel Christian took the team to 84 runs before the latter was dismissed by his opposite number in the last ball of the seventh over. At this stage, Patel came in with the team needing 15 runs to win off the last over. The right-hander scored two runs off as many balls. He decided to retire out on the penultimate ball of the last over when they needed three runs to win.
Moores, who was at the crease, could score only one run and the team lost the game by one run.
Watch the video here
You cannot make this up! 😂
Samit Patel also retires himself out off the penultimate ball of the match! #Blast22 pic.twitter.com/Q2fPLRe7A5
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 5, 2022
This isn't the first time a player has decided to retire out. During the Indian T20 League 2022, Ravichandran Ashwin decided to retire out in a game against Lucknow.