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This moment of sportsmanship shortly followed by a wicket proves karma is very real

A story of Mankading, controversy and redemption.
A story of Mankading, controversy and redemption. A story of Mankading, controversy and redemption.

Mankading in cricket refers to when a batsman is run out by the bowler – with the latter knocking off the bails at the non-striker’s end instead of bowling the ball when the former has come too far out of his crease.

The most famous example of this method of dismissal comes from the man who lends his name to it, Vinoo Mankad. The Indian bowler famously ran out Bill Brown in a test in 1947 and was vilified by many for being unsportsmanlike.

Mankad playing against England in 1952
Mankad playing against England in 1952 (S&G/S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport)
Mankad batting against England in 1952 (S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport)

More recently, Keemo Paul faced severe criticism earlier this year for Mankading in the under-19 World Cup for the West Indies – running out Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava to seal a place in the quarter-finals of the competition when the African nation needed just three runs to win the match.

So, when Kieron Pollard decided against Mankading Paul’s batting partner Assad Fudadin in the Caribbean Premier League, some would say what happened in the next ball was a dose of good karma…

Pollard, 30, stayed his hand at Mankading Fudadin of the Guyana Amazon Warriors but took a wicket on the next ball – Kane Williamson claiming a high ball to catch none other than young Paul himself.

It wasn’t enough for the Tridents though, as they went on to lose the match by four wickets.