‘Unbelievable’: Cameroon cricketer dismisses four batters at non-striker’s end in one match

In unprecedented scenes, a teenage debutant dismissed four batters using the controversial “Mankad” tactic in one innings.

There would be rioting in the streets if Ravichandran Ashwin attempted something like this.

History books will say Cameroon cricketer Maeva Douma finished Sunday’s match against Uganda with bowling figures of 1/32, but in reality, the 16-year-old contributed an additional four wickets during her “unbelievable” four-over spell.

In unprecedented scenes, Douma dismissed four Uganda batters using the controversial “Mankad” tactic in one innings during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers.

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The term “Mankading” — used when a bowler runs out a non-striker before delivery — was coined 70 years ago when Indian great Vinoo Mankad twice ran out Bill Brown at the bowler’s end during India’s tour of Australia in 1947. It has remained a divisive topic in the sport ever since.

Uganda was 1/153 in the 16th over when Douma first attempted the Mankad, running out rival wicketkeeper Kevin Awino for 34.

The teenage seamer did the same again three deliveries later, dismissing Uganda No. 3 Rita Musamali for 59.

Douma returned for the final over of Uganda’s innings, where she removed another two batters in identical fashion.

MF Douma of Cameron ran out four batters, who tried to take a start at the non-strikers end. Unbelievable pic.twitter.com/X7LvO5jUid

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 12, 2021

According to cricket statistician Kausthub Gudipati, this was just the second instance of four run-outs being affected by a single player in a women’s T20 match.

Sports journalist David Byrom tweeted: “Generally can see both sides of the Mankad debate (think the bowler offering an initial warning seems fair), but when a bowler does it four times in an innings, it‘s absolutely hilarious and the batsmen can have no complaints.”

Uganda finished their innings on 6/190 before bowling out Cameroon for 35 to secure a comfortable 155-run victory in Gaborone. Douma was removed for one, soaking up 12 deliveries at the crease.

It was Cameroon’s first match in women’s T20 internationals, with the African nation competing in an ICC event for the first time.

Now, I’m no fan of Mankading but I’d suggest that the third and fourth victims here should probably have been paying more attention. https://t.co/DERL4evtQJ

— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) September 12, 2021

Probably wouldn't let someone get 59 off 40 before mankading them tbh, but that's nitpicking.

Four mankads, Maeva? Four? That's insane.

— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) September 12, 2021

Ashwin dominated headlines in 2019 following the controversial run out of English batter Jos Buttler at the Indian Premier League.

Australian cricket great Shane Warne led a chorus of outrage, condemning the act on social media.

“So disappointed in Ravi Ashwin as a captain and as a person,” Warne wrote.

“All captains sign the IPL wall and agree to play in the spirit of the game. (Ashwin) had no intention of delivering the ball — so it should have been called a dead ball.

“Ashwin’s actions were simply disgraceful and I hope the BCCI doesn’t condone this sort of behaviour in the IPL.

“Any player in the game that does that to anyone is an embarrassment to the game and as captain it’s even more disgraceful.”

But the unapologetic Ashwin pointed out in a post-match interview: “It is there in the rules of the game. I don’t know where the understanding of the spirit of the game comes from because quite naturally if it’s there in the rules, it’s there.

“So probably the rules need to go back and be sorted.”