Cricket match stopped as umpire is hit by model aircraft in Cosby

Play was stopped at a cricket match after an umpire was hit by a model aircraft.

The match between Cosby second team and Gilmorton Village was halted for a few a minutes after the square leg umpire was hit on the back of the legs by the model plane yesterday.

Cosby opening batsman Nigel Meredith told how he and other players watched in disbelief as the plane crash -landed on the Cosby pitch and then hit the official.

Nigel said: “It was about two hours into our innings and the plane just appeared out of the blue in the sky above the ground.

“The plane seemed to stall, then it spiralled downwards and crashed into the ground.

“It bounced then crashed into the legs of the square leg umpire.”

Nigel, 32, who was batting at the time, said the umpire was not badly hurt and everyone saw the funny side of the incident.

He said: “It was just as well that the plane hit the ground and bounced before it hit the umpire otherwise it could really have hurt him.

“He feigned a bit of injury at first but then assured everyone he was fine.

“I have been playing cricket for 18 years and never seen anything like it.

"I have seen play stopped for rain and even a dog on the pitch but not because an umpire has been hit by a plane.”

“I heard that the man who was flying the plane came into the club house to claim the plane a bit later. I think he apologised for what had happened.”

Cosby bowler Simon Cooper saw the plane hit the umpire.

The 18-year-old said: “It was weird. The plane just suddenly appeared and then hit the umpire.

“I grabbed my phone and managed to get a photograph as the umpire carried the plane off the pitch.

“He was laughing and joking about it so there was no harm done. I am not so sure if the plane came off worse or not.”

Nigel went on to score 63 runs as his team posted a total of 160 for 9.

The visitors had recorded a score of 193-5, which left Cosby with a losing draw.

Both teams play in the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League division 6 East.