“Absolute wipeout”: Kent fall victim to ludicrous fielding but have last laugh

Jordan Cox collided with his Kent team-mate Daniel Bell-Drummond on the boundary while taking a catch

There was a bizarre moment in the final of the T20 Blast between Somerset and Kent as Will Smeed was given a reprieve after getting caught on the boundary by Jordan Cox.

Smeed was on 36 at the time, when he attempted to launch Joe Denly into the stands for six.

Cox caught the ball on the boundary, but made contact with fellow fielder Daniel Bell-Drummond, who slid into the boundary rope.

After a long check by the third umpire, it was signalled a six and Smeed was given a reprieve.

However, Smeed was out later that same over, getting caught once again by Cox on the boundary who celebrated wildly.

Speaking on commentary for Sky Sports, former England internationals Mark Butcher and Ebony Rainford-Brent described Smeed’s earlier reprieve as something they had never seen before.

“Daniel Bell-Drummond did his very best to put Jordan Cox off,” Butcher said. “And break his own leg.”

“They were both in hunt, no communication and the slide has come in,” added Rainford-Brent. Absolute wipeout.”

After realising that the umpires were checking the dismissal, Butcher said: “Hang on, hang on. Was Bell-Drummond in contact with Cox when Cox caught the ball when Bell-Drummond was touching the boundary rope? I’ve never seen this before, that must be what they’re checking.

“Cox takes the catch cleanly, but he is in contact with Bell-Drummond, Bell-Drummond is in contact with the rope and Cox is in contact with the ball. Now, you think you’ve seen everything!”

Rainford-Brent then added: “There is no doubt he’s touching the rope and that Cox has the ball in his hand. I’ve not seen this happen, especially in a crunch moment like this.”

Butcher continues: “The third umpire, Neil Bainton, will be in conversation with the fourth umpire and the match referee about what the law says about this.

“I recognise that look on the face of [umpire] Mike Burns, that is ‘I’ve got no idea’. Never seen it, never come across it. It’s six! Wow, wow, wow!

“You’re in the game for most of you’re life and you think you’ve seen everything… That is the first time I’ve ever seen that.”

Kent went on to win the final comfortably by 26 runs, with Smeed’s dismissal sparking a major collapse which saw only one other batter reach double figures.

Kent had not won the competition since 2007 and it was a welcome triumph for the Spitfires.