In a first for T20 cricket, tied Super Smash match sees two retired outs in same innings

In a historic first for T20 cricket, two batters were retired out in the same innings during a Super Smash contest between Northern Districts and Otago at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Northern Districts’ middle-order batters Jeet Raval and Xavier Bell were retired out in the 17th and 18th over, respectively, as the run chase threatened to become steeper.

With Northern Districts requiring 58 runs to win off 24 balls, Raval, batting on 23 off 28 balls, was retired out off the first ball of the 17th over. After the first delivery of the following over, Bell, who was batting on 9 off 13 balls, endured the same fate.

The move worked as Northern Districts managed to secure a tie with skipper Ben Pomare and Scott Kuggeleijn chipping in with handy cameos to take their team to 166 for six in 20 overs, level with Otago.

The mode of dismissal has gained currency in recent times, with teams prioritising scoring runs quickly over preserving wickets.

Though in 2010, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi had become the first batter in T20 cricket to be retired out, the mode of dismissal was popularised by Rajasthan Royals’ R. Ashwin during the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Since then, 56 batters have been retired out, but never two in the same innings, as was the case on Sunday.

Published on Jan 04, 2026