Watch: Hampshire’s Kieth Barker shows smarts; executes a superb run-out at the other end

Hampshire seamer Kieth Barker inflicted an exceptional other-end run-out off his bowling in Division 1 County Championship round game on Sunday (June 12). The left-arm seamer brought his non-bowling arm to great use and got Yorkshire batter Will Fraine out. 

Barker smartly got his right arm in the way of a straight drive from opposition right-hander George Hill, who would’ve felt sorry for his teammate Fraine for hitting the shot a little too straight for his liking. 

To be fair to Hill, though, the way he played the stroke, it would’ve most probably evaded the off-stump for a boundary had the bowler not twisted the ball’s direction with his hand. 

Kieth Barker made the difficult run-out look all too easy after swiftly adjusting against his follow-through and being alert enough to the wicket-taking possibility. 

Kieth Barker’s fantastic run-out gives Hampshire much-needed breakthrough 

It was a critical breakthrough for Hampshire as they were toiling hard with a relatively new Dukes ball for the second wicket on Day 1 with Yorkshire placed reasonably well at 81/1. That changed after a terrific piece of fielding by Kieth Barker on his bowling. 

On a day where taking wickets become progressively difficult, Barker’s one-handed rebound ensured the second wicket of the morning for the home side at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. 

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The run-out was so good that the official Twitter handle of the County Championship made it a point to share a clip of the same with fans, who later applauded the bowler for his effort. 

Awareness 💯

Outstanding Keith Barker 👏 #LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/Rh5jkiovWO

— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) June 12, 2022

The run-out brought a smile on the faces of Kieth Barker and the rest of the Hampshire fielding unit. Standing there in complete contrast were Hill and Fraine, who felt dejected to have gotten run-out in a manner that no batter has ever warmed up to. 

Barker didn’t take a wicket for the afternoon, bowling a largely restrictive spell of 0/54 off 21 overs as Yorkshire rallied along to post 324/5 by the close of play, including a 131 off 257 balls from opening batter Hill.