1 2 3 Pune: High drama prevailed as Maharashtra captain Ankeet Bawne refused to leave the field after being given out caught despite a bounced ball, leading to suspension of play for 15 minutes, in their Ranji Trophy game against Services at Gahunje stadium Thursday. The seasoned batsman, who had been part of the India ‘A' team in the past, finally relented after much persuasion from match officials and team management. The incident happened on the first ball of the 50th over bowled by left-arm spinner Amit Shukla.
The middle-order batsman edged it to second slip, placed a couple of feet ahead than the normal position. Shubham Rohilla claimed the catch and started celebrating and Bawne started his protest straightaway even before the umpire could give his verdict. Nikhil Menon, the umpire at the non-striker's end, consulted square-leg umpire P Jayapal, before raising his finger.
It left Bawne stunned. TV replays showed that the slip fielder Rohilla had plucked the ball on the bounce. However, since this match was only digital live and not full-fledged live (including a designated TV umpire) there was no Decision Review System (DRS).
Hence, the batting team could not refer it to the match referee who acts as TV umpire in such games. The umpires themselves could ask for TV intervention only in cases of run outs, stumpings, hit wicket and front foot no-balls. The rival team could have withdrawn their appeal, but they decided to trust their fielder.
Bawne was batting on 73 and .
