Reporter taken out mid-interview as diving fielder attempts to save four in SA20

19 January 2023 , 10:30

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Presenter Zainab Abbas was wiped out by a diving fielder during the SA20 (Image: Twitter/@SuperSportTV)

During the SA20 clash between MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape, South Africa star Marco Jansen produced a blistering assault with the bat as his 27-ball 66 won Sunrisers the match.

Jansen came to the crease in the 13th over with Sunrisers in trouble at 91-5, having been set a target of 172 to win. However, the 22-year-old proceeded to turn the game on its head with a brilliant innings that included ten boundaries.

Shortly after coming to the crease, Jansen struck the first of those ten boundaries when he swung a delivery from England star Sam Curran away towards the leg side boundary. The shot bisected two fielders perfectly and ran away for four.

Ryan Rickelton put in a despairing dive, but failed to prevent the boundary and ended up crashing into presenter Zainab Abbas who happened to be conducting an interview just over the ropes.

Rickelton clipped Abbas with his feet as he slid over the boundary and she was sent tumbling to the ground. Abbas was interviewing Eric Tinkler, the manager of South African football team Cape Town City, at the time of the incident and Tinkler quickly helped her back to her feet.

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After picking up her microphone and sharing a laugh with Tinkler, Abbas said: "It seems like we are okay, we have survived. It's clearly back to you guys in the commentary box!"

Abbas later shared a clip of the incident on social media, joking: "I've survived, but now I know how it feels! get that ice pack out .."

Jansen's heroics, meanwhile, have further underlined his status as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket. Standing at 6ft 8in tall, the 20-year-old has primarily starred for South Africa with the ball.

In ten Tests, the left-arm quick has taken 41 wickets at an average of 21.65, while also showing flashes of his potential with the bat. In the SA20, Jansen is averaging 118 while striking at a whopping 184.37.

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Matthew Cooper