Cricket is thrilling—but sometimes, it turns terrifying. A spine-chilling moment unfolded during the Breakout T20 League in the West Indies, when Alick Athanaze—batting without a helmet—was struck directly on the face by a ball mid-match.

The crowd gasped, players froze, and cameras zoomed in as the Caribbean cricketer clutched his face in pain.

50 Not Out… Then Disaster Struck

The clash was between Windward Island and Guyana Rainforest. Athanaze came in early and lit up the field, reaching his half-century in just 34 balls. But while calmly facing a spinner, and deciding he didn’t need a helmet, fate had a different plan.

One mistimed shot—and the ball slammed straight into his face.

No Helmet, No Panic… Just Pure Grit

 

 

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The ball was delivered by spinner Latif. The impact left the crowd in silence. But Athanaze didn’t crumble—he stood up, shook it off, and on the very next delivery, smashed a six as if nothing had happened.

91 Not Out and a Victory for Courage

Unfazed and undeterred, Athanaze went on to score an unbeaten 91 off 57 balls, including 7 sixes and 5 fours. Thanks to his fearless innings, Windward Island put up a total of 166/7. In reply, Guyana Rainforest fell short by 25 runs.

The moment served as a stark reminder: courage in cricket isn’t always about the shots—it’s sometimes about standing tall when the ball hits you hard.