It was the start of the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. South African spinner Imran Tahir became the first spinner to bowl the opening over of a World Cup joining illustrious names like Andy Roberts, Richard Hadlee and Shaun Pollock.
With his second delivery, Tahir got English opener Johnny Bairstow caught behind. On cue, the 40-year-old sets off in his signature celebratory style that fans have come to expect from him by now.
South Africa may have struggled in this edition of the World Cup but Tahir has managed to put together a run of stirring performances with the ball.
He has picked up 10 wickets so far setting off on his celebratory run each time.
The celebration has caught the eye of social media with several memes being made.
Imran Tahir - the new age Usain Bolt pic.twitter.com/rGsTMuttia
— Fazeela Saba Kashif (@saba_fazeela) June 25, 2019
Nobody:
— Adil Dar (@adilmdar) June 23, 2019
Imran Tahir after taking a wicket: pic.twitter.com/Lq1xzifgTv
Breaking: ICC ordered to close all exit doors at Lord's stadium so Imran Tahir don't run out of the stadium after taking a wicket.
— شاہ زیب خان (@shzbkhn) June 23, 2019
#Imran Tahir running towards airport to catch a flight back home after Proteas exit from World cup 2019 race.#PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/gEfLHgwPZq
— AMIRR_FAN_CLUB(@CwcKhan) June 23, 2019
#Imran Tahir has reached Karachi seaview after taking wicket of Fakhar Zaman & Imam Ul Haq#PAKvSA #CWC19 #PakvSA pic.twitter.com/tENYroOJvW
— Rimsha_Usman (@RimshaQureshi97) June 23, 2019
#Imran tahir after taking wicket. @cricketworldcup pic.twitter.com/YHnszJCqo7
— Simple Boy (@Iamsimple_boy) June 23, 2019
#imran tahir is still running.
— M.Kamran Sial (@MKamranSial1) June 23, 2019
کوئی تو روک لو#PAKvSA #ImranTahir pic.twitter.com/czCmWqTlyw
Imran tahir
— M01Z (@MIZ__TER) June 25, 2019
After taking wicket
in space:#Imran #tahir pic.twitter.com/PNFCJRXpz4
The celebration is familiar to Indian fans thanks to Tahir's appearances for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
The 40-year-old spinner also became the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in World Cup history during the course of this tournament.
He achieved the feat when he took two wickets against Pakistan on Sunday, which took his tally to 39 wickets. In the process, he went past South African great Allan Donald who held the previous record with 38 wickets.
However, South Africa were handed a crushing 49-run defeat by Pakistan in their crucial World Cup tie at Lord's in London, thus ruling out their chances of making it to the semis.
The Proteas have now lost five out of their seven games they have played at the ongoing tournament and are only above Afghanistan - the only side they have beaten - in the points table.