WATCH: Mohammed Siraj destroys Simon Harmer’s off stump with cracking delivery

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New Delhi: Mohammed Siraj has made a habit of producing moments that stick in the memory, and something similar happened on Day 3 of the first Test at Eden Gardens. With South Africa trying to hang on in their second innings, Siraj sent down a ball that not only beat Simon Harmer but snapped his off stump clean in half. It was the kind of dismissal that instantly sends a buzz around the ground.

The moment arrived in the 53rd over when he was delivering just his second of the season. Siraj ran in with typical intensity, hit a teasing length and angled the ball in towards the off stump. Harmer thought that it would hold its line; he shouldered arms. What happened next was anything but routine. The ball crashed into the off stump and sent it flying into two pieces. Harmer stood still for a moment and was almost in disbelief, before beginning the long walk back.
The force of the blow was so severe that the fourth umpire had to sprint onto the field with a replacement stump. Even for a venue that has seen its fair share of iconic cricket moments, Eden Gardens hadn’t witnessed something quite like this in a while.

More to follow…