Watch! Twitter reacts as Tendai Chatara comes up with comical fielding to leave fans stunned

Sunday 18th June, 2023 saw the start of the qualification rounds for the 2023 ICC World Cup. In what would have been a nondescript tournament, the eyes of the world are centered at Zimbabwe because of two teams. Sri Lanka winners of 1996 World Cup and West Indies winners of the 1975 and 1979 world cup are part of the tournament. The two former world champions have to undergo the qualification due to their inability to get a direct entry into the main stages of the tournament.

The story as it happened –

The first day of the tournament on Sunday saw home team Zimbabwe take on Nepal, while in the other game it was USA playing against West Indies. Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and chose to bowl first. The home team wanted to make use of the early morning moisture to unsettle the young Nepali outfit.

Tendai Chatara turns his back on an easy catch –

The entire drama unfolded in the 33rd over with Madhevere bowling Kushal Malla. The left hander came down the track to deposit the ball deep into the stand for a six. The batter did not time the ball well as it was an easy regulation catch to Chatara.

The veteran Zimbabwean though turned his back to avoid getting hit by the ball. To Chatara’s defense there was sun beating down on his eyes which made things tougher. The shock though was felt in the stand by the fans as well as commentator Mbwanga who could only shout “No” in absolute disbelief.

Kushal Bhurtel’s 99 leads Nepal to 290 –

Put into bat, Nepal got a good start thanks to their opener Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Shaikh. The pair added 171 for the 1st wicket with Bhurtel scoring 99 off 95 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes. Shaikh scored 66 off 100 balls with 7 fours in his knock. Kushal Malla made the best of the chance with 42 off 43 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. Captain Rohit Paudel scored 31 off 29 balls as Nepal posted a decent looking 290 on the board.

Ervine and Williams centuries power Zimbabwe home –

Chasing 291 to win, Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine opened with Joylord Gumbie and added 45 for the 1st wicket. Gumbie scored 25 before he fell to S. Kami. Madhevere and Ervine then combined for a 82 run 2nd wicket stand before Madhevere fell to Gulshan Kha for 32.

Those two wickets were the only source of joy for the Nepali players as veteran batters Ervine and Williams took the team home. Craig Ervine was not out on 121 off 128 balls with 15 fours and a six. Williams scored an unbeaten 102 off 70 balls with 13 fours and a six. Zimbabwe won the game with 35 balls and 8 wickets to spare.

Twitter reacts –

Cricket fans took to Twitter to troll Tendai Chatara for his fielding and you can read all the tweets below. 

pic.twitter.com/BjXAuT613H

— Octopus Yadav (@OctopusYadav) June 18, 2023