'Oh my God': Cricket world in disbelief over 'ridiculous' moment
Jimmy Neesham has lit up the cricket world with an extraordinary shot during the second T20 between New Zealand and Australia.
Martin Guptill plundered a brilliant 97 off just 50 balls as the Kiwis made 7-219 at Dunedin's tiny University of Otago Oval.
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However it was Neesham who stole the headlines with an insane 'reverse' six towards the end of New Zealand's innings.
Neesham made 45 not out from 16 balls, including one moment of magic against Daniel Sams when he ramped the Aussie bowler over the boundary.
A 16-ball 45 for Jimmy Neesham today, including shots like this one. He averages 68 from his last five T20I innings 🔥
Do you think he will be able to replicate the same for Mumbai Indians in #IPL2021?pic.twitter.com/hEIB7PoNbM— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) February 25, 2021
Neesham squared up as Sams was delivering the ball, but instead of playing a traditional ramp he flicked it over his left shoulder for six.
While a traditional ramp would end up on the leg-side, Neesham's shot went over the slips on the off-side.
"What a shot from Neesham. That is ridiculous," Isa Guha said in commentary.
"That’s not fair. I can’t believe that shot."
Mark Waugh added: "That’s a reverse ramp. He went for the normal ramp and went, nup, not in my zone, so I’ll just change the angle of the bat."
Fans were also left in disbelief.
That Jimmy Neesham shot is the very definition of ridiculous. 😍 #NZvAUS
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 25, 2021
OMG! How good was that shot by Neesham? The sound of the bat, Oofff! 😍😍😍 #NZvAUS also could be a no ball 😭😭😭
— kIMkLOz (@kIMkLOz_4) February 25, 2021
Outrageous shot from Neesham
— John Anstey (@VillaJohn01) February 25, 2021
An insane shot from Neesham #NZvAUS
— baldy (@kallam_R) February 25, 2021
Kiwi batsmen but Australia to the sword
Guptill returned to form with a mighty knock, falling agonisingly short of a century when he was caught on the boundary.
The veteran Kiwi endured an injury-blighted domestic season but repaid selectors with an innings that began with a four off the first ball and barely slowed.
The 34-year-old smashed eight sixes and six fours, as Kane Williamson's measured 53 off 35 proved a fine foil.
At 1-151 inside 15 overs, the Black Caps were eyeing the record books.
Neesham kept up the pain, starting with three consecutive sixes.
Thankfully for Aaron Finch's men, determined bowling prevented an even bigger blowout.
While every Australian bowler took punishment, six wickets in the final six overs slowed the onslaught.
Still, the total marked the the third-largest innings ever tallied against Australia.
New Zealand won the first match to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
with AAP
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