A bizarre delivery from USA fast bowler Ali Khan became one of the biggest talking points of the Canada Super60 semifinal between Toronto Sixers and Mississauga Masters at BC Place in Vancouver.
During Toronto Sixers' innings, Khan bowled a short delivery to experienced batter Kieron Pollard. The ball rose sharply, travelled over Pollard's head and continued past the wicketkeeper before clearing the boundary. The unusual trajectory initially made it appear as though Pollard and Toronto Sixers had received a six.
However, there was an important difference. Pollard had not touched the delivery with his bat or body. As a result, the umpire did not award a six. Instead, the delivery was called a wide, with four additional runs awarded because the ball reached the boundary. Toronto Sixers therefore received a total of five runs from the delivery.
The decision created confusion among spectators because the ball had physically travelled beyond the boundary without touching the ground inside the playing area. Under the Laws of Cricket, however, a six can only be awarded when the ball has been struck by the bat and subsequently crosses the boundary without first landing inside the field.
In this case, there was no contact from Pollard. That meant the delivery could not be recorded as a conventional six. The wide call added one run, while the boundary allowance added four more, producing a total of five runs.
The incident also demonstrated why the scoring of boundaries in cricket depends not only on where the ball finishes but also on how it reaches the boundary. A ball hit by the batter and cleared over the boundary can result in six runs, while an unstruck ball that reaches the boundary is treated differently under the Laws of Cricket.
The unusual moment occurred during the first semifinal of the Canada Super60 between Toronto Sixers and Mississauga Masters. Toronto Sixers batted first and posted 130 runs for four wickets from their 10 overs.
Pollard played a major role in the Toronto innings. The former West Indies captain scored an unbeaten 40 runs from just 16 deliveries. His aggressive innings included three fours and four sixes. Andries Gous also contributed an unbeaten 33 from 11 balls, helping Toronto finish with a strong total in the short-format contest.
Imad Wasim also provided an important contribution at the beginning of the innings, scoring 26 runs from 13 deliveries. Toronto's late acceleration helped the team reach 130 runs in the allotted 10 overs.
Mississauga Masters began their chase positively. Alex Lees scored 39 runs from only 11 balls, while George Munsey added 23 from 11 deliveries. The early scoring rate gave Mississauga hope of completing the chase.
However, Toronto's bowlers recovered during the middle and final stages of the innings. Imad Wasim was particularly effective, taking two wickets for 19 runs. Abdul Raheem Toppin also bowled an economical spell, helping Toronto control the scoring rate towards the end.
Mississauga Masters eventually finished on 121 for seven in their 10 overs. Toronto Sixers therefore secured a nine run victory and advanced to the final.
Despite the result, Ali Khan's unusual delivery became the most memorable moment for many viewers. The USA pacer finished the match with two wickets but conceded 43 runs from his two overs.
The incident also attracted considerable attention because of the compact playing conditions at BC Place. The ball travelled over both the batter and wicketkeeper before having enough distance to reach the boundary. Such a sequence is extremely unusual in professional cricket and immediately generated discussion among commentators and fans.
The moment also served as a reminder that cricket's scoring laws can produce results that may initially look surprising to viewers. A ball crossing the boundary does not automatically mean that six runs will be recorded. The circumstances under which the ball reaches the boundary determine how the runs are scored.
For a six, the ball must have been struck by the bat. Since Pollard did not make contact with Khan's delivery, the boundary could only count as four runs. Because the delivery was also a wide, the additional one run for the wide brought the total to five.
The Canada Super60 semifinal therefore produced an unusual combination of events. A fast bowler attempted to trouble one of the most experienced power hitters in the game with a bouncer, but the delivery travelled over both the batter and wicketkeeper and eventually crossed the boundary. Instead of six runs, the batting side received five.
The incident quickly became a viral talking point and added another unusual chapter to the growing list of unexpected moments in franchise cricket.
Toronto Sixers ultimately completed a nine run victory, but the bizarre delivery from Ali Khan provided the match with its most unusual talking point. It was a rare example of a ball appearing to clear the boundary for a maximum while the official scorecard recorded five wides instead.
