The incident occurred during Surrey’s second innings when Bairstow collected the ball behind the stumps following a delivery that went past the batter. As play briefly paused, Bairstow casually threw the ball towards the slip cordon. However, the Yorkshire fielder at first slip appeared to have taken his eyes off the ball. The throw caught him completely by surprise and struck him in the groin, immediately leaving him in visible discomfort. Bairstow quickly realised where the ball had landed but struggled to control his reaction. The England international was seen laughing as his teammate recovered from the painful blow.

The unexpected exchange was captured on video and subsequently went viral on social media. The incident also highlighted how quickly an ordinary moment on a cricket field can turn into an unexpected comedy scene. The fielder's lack of awareness of the incoming throw made the situation even more unusual, while Bairstow's reaction added to the entertainment for spectators. The match itself was a highly competitive encounter at The Oval. Yorkshire were bowled out for just 82 in their second innings, with Matthew Fisher producing a career best 6-25 for Surrey. Yorkshire nevertheless put Surrey under pressure while defending a target of 185.

Surrey eventually completed a dramatic one wicket victory after slipping to 115 for seven in their chase. Josh Blake and Fisher steadied the innings before Dan Worrall struck the winning boundary, completing one of the closest finishes of the County Championship season. While the result provided plenty of drama, Bairstow's accidental throw quickly became one of the lighter moments associated with the match. The clip drew reactions from cricket fans online, many of whom focused on the goalkeeper-like throw, the unfortunate timing and Bairstow's uncontrollable laughter. Despite the brief comic episode, the match proved to be a difficult outing for Yorkshire. Their inability to defend a relatively modest target ultimately handed Surrey a crucial victory, while the bizarre incident involving Bairstow provided an unusual talking point away from the tense finish.