New Delhi: In reply to South Africa’s 242, Australia were cruising at 158 for no loss, with David Warner and Shaun Marsh showing no signs of a possible lapse of concentration. Just then commentator Mark Nicholas staged a remarkable comeback for the Proteas and triggered an Australia collapse.
Yes, you read it right. David Warner was batting at 97, looking set for his fourth hundred at Perth, where he averages a stunning 96. In a bizarre turn of events, commentator Mark Nicholas cursed Warner and he got out the very next ball.
Mark Nicholas and Shane were present at the commentary box during the incident and gave a prime example of the ‘commentator's curse’.
Mark Nicholas was recorded as saying “He (Warner) has never got out in the nineties.” To which Shane Warne gasps, “You shouldn’t have said that Mark.” Factually, David Warner has been dismissed nine times in the nervous nineties.
What transpired in the next ball left Shane Warne baffled, forcing him to stand up from his chair. Steyn ran in and bowled a delivery just outside the off stump and Warner poked at the ball without much feet movement only to knick it to first slip. South Africa got their first breakthrough of the day and Warner was out for 97, triggering a sensational Aussie collapse. Lead by Vernon Philander and debutant Keshav Maharaj, South Africa bowled out Australia for 244, only 2 runs ahead of their total.
Catch the video here: http://www.cricket.com.au/video/david-warner-out-97-commentary-shane-warne-mark-nicholas-australia-south-africa-highlights/2016-11-04