Six Inches from Disaster: Girl Nearly Hit in the Head by Flying Cricket Ball at Vitality Blast Match

A casual evening at the stadium turned into a moment of sheer panic when a young girl narrowly escaped serious injury during a Vitality Blast T20 League match between Kent and Sussex. A six struck by Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond rocketed into the stands and smashed into the hand of a girl watching from the gallery—missing her face by mere inches.

How Close Was It?

The incident occurred in the 4th over of Kent’s innings. Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson delivered the second ball, which Bell-Drummond launched for a massive six. The ball flew directly into the stands and hit the girl's hand with full force. She was visibly in pain and groaned as the ball struck, but thankfully, she avoided a potentially life-threatening head injury.

Spectators nearby rushed to check on her, and despite her discomfort, she bravely signaled that she was okay. A video of the incident is now going viral on social media, with fans and cricket enthusiasts reacting with shock and relief.

Match Summary

• Sussex Innings: Bowled out for 148 runs in 20 overs.

  • Top scorers:

    • Tom Clark – 29 (20)

    • Ollie Robinson – 27 (14)

    • James Coles – 24 (14)

  • Kent’s Nathan Gilchrist was the standout bowler with 4 wickets for 42 runs.

• Kent Chase:

  • Kent won the match by 2 wickets, reaching the target in 19.3 overs.

  • Joey Evison – 48 (24)

  • Daniel Bell-Drummond – 47 (36)

  • Tymal Mills picked up 3 wickets for 22 runs for Sussex.

Lucky Escape, Viral Moment

While Kent celebrated a hard-fought victory, the match will be remembered just as much for the near-tragic moment in the crowd. It’s a stark reminder of the real danger fans face when seated close to the boundary—and how split-second reflexes can make all the difference.