ENG vs SA | Twitter bows to agile Stubbs' remarkable reflexes after avoiding bizarre hit-wicket

South Africa braved through a threatening new-ball phase against the swinging Kookaburra to put on a clinical opening stand of 73 before Jofra Archer provided the opening breakthrough by scalping Ryan Rickelton. Two more quick wickets followed soon after as Adil Rashid took grip of proceedings with an exhibition of flight and turn, leaving Mathew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs with the onus of rebuilding the Proteas innings from 93/3 after 19 overs. The two men carried out the job with aplomb, with the former keeping the run rate competitive while his younger compatriot kept ticking away cautiously. Even though Stubsb managed to keep a bowler at bay, he nearly caused his own undoing unprovoked and it took a brilliant athletic effort to keep the partnership going.

On the first ball if the 31st over, Saqib Mahmood angled a length ball into Stubbs that decked in off the surface. The batter tried to avoid the danger with a straight bat but just as the Kokaburra made contact, his willow turned in his hands and slipped out of control. In a sequence straight out of an action thriller, the bat floated into the air and over Stubbs before beginnng to make its descent towards the stumps. Stubbs quickly fluttered his eyes around trying to grasp the situation and as soon as he realized a hit wicket could be in order, the 25-year-old frantically dove backwards with his arms flailing. A subtle touch mid-air managed to halt the bat's momentum slightly, but it was some more desparate clawing once Stubbs was prone on the deck that eventually had him turn the bat away from the three poles.

Mahmood could not believe his eyes as he guffawed with mouth wide open, an expression mirrored by his peers and Twitterati.

Oh wait! Oh god!

Good knock!

Congo on it!

Nice job!

Brilliant!

Hahaha! Thta's called luck mate!

Yeah!

Ha?

Not into it now!

Yeah!