The commencement of the SA20 season for the Paarl Royals featured the dynamic English pair of Jason Roy and Jos Buttler opening the innings. Having been instructed to bat first by the Pretoria Capitals at Boland Park, the pitch exhibited early signs of grip, causing a slow start for the batters.
Despite the challenging conditions, Roy showcased his prowess by aggressively starting off in the third over. However, the consequences turned grim for the spectators.
Following a boundary against Eathan Bosch on the second ball, Roy confidently advanced down the track, elegantly launching the Kookaburra over the long-on boundary for a maximum.
The crowd, as customary in SA20’s history, gathered with anticipation around the coveted white rock, enticed by Betway’s promise to award 2 million rands to anyone catching the ball one-handed in the stands.
Hope that guy is Okay, Superb shot by Jason Roy pic.twitter.com/kurIgu4yKf
— ๐ป๐๐๐ || ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด (@TahaaAftab) January 12, 2024
— Virat Sharma (@ViratSharm39743) January 12, 2024
A white-bearded gentleman positioned himself beneath the descending ball, but unfortunately, he misjudged its speed in the bright sunlight. Before he could react and avoid the impending danger, the hard-leather ball struck him forcefully on the jaw, leading to unexpected and unsettling scenes in the stands.