Watch: Shoaib Bashir survives as towel mishap denies Kyle Abbott a wicket in County Championship match

In a County Championship Division One encounter between Somerset and Hampshire at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, Shoaib Bashir got a reprieve after being dismissed as Kyle Abbott couldn't believe his luck.

In the first innings, Bashir walked out to bat at No. 11 after the hosts lost their first nine wickets for 136 runs. The England off-spinner, who isn't known for his batting skills, tried to defend a delivery from Abbott but the out-swinger went past the outside edge and hit the top of off-stump. Abbott and the rest of his Hampshire teammates thought that it was the end of the innings. However, Bashir stood his ground after pointing towards something at the non-striker's end.

The youngster had spotted Abbott losing his towel from his pant pocket during his delivery stride. He was informing the umpire about the incident. The umpire deemed it a "dead ball" as Bashir lived to fight on. If this was deemed a fair delivery, Abbott would have been on a hat-trick as he had dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore off the previous delivery.

“His towel has fallen out of his back pocket, which means it’s a no-ball. And would you believe it? Kyle Abbott would’ve been on a hattrick,” the commentators said while on air.

Check out the viral Bashir towel moment here:

What does the law say?

Law 20.4.2.6 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) states that the umpires can declare a dead ball when “the striker is distracted by any noise or movement or in any other way while preparing to receive, or receiving a delivery.”

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Bashir, however, couldn't capitalize on the reprieve, as the Surrey-born was out LBW (Leg Before Wicket dismissal) on the fifth ball of the 54th over. Bashir’s dismissal meant that Somerset wrapped up their first innings for 136. Kyle Abbott finished with excellent figures of 4/25 from 14 overs.

After dismissing Somerset for 136, Hampshire took a 60-run lead in the first innings of the County Championship game. Toby Albert top-scored for Hampshire in their first innings, while Jack Leach bagged a five-for. Somerset will have to bat really well in their second innings to comeback into the match.