Listen to Story India registered a clinical 43-run win over Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three match series on Saturday, July 27 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. While the match was full of phenomenal performances from both India and Sri Lankan players, a particular moment in Sri Lanka’s innings reminded fans of the famous 2019 World Cup final. During the first ball of the 12 th over bowled by Hardik Pandya, Nissanka played the ball towards the square leg to complete his fifty as the batters ran two.
However, a direct hit at the non strikers end took the ball towards the boundary which meant that Sri Lanka got six runs from the ball. However, as third umpire checked the replays for run out, he also found out that the batters hadn’t crossed when the fielder released the ball and hence awarded five runs to Sri Lanka instead of two. The incident immediately reminded everyone of the World Cup 2019 final as a similar incident took place in the famous game.
Notably, in the final played between England and New Zealand played at Lord’s, a controversial moment was witnessed in the last over. A throw from Martin Guptill hit Ben Stokes’ hand and went all the way towards third man boundary for a four after batters ran two. In a never-before-seen before incident on the cricket pitch, England were awarded six runs which helped them to tie the game after their allotted 50 overs.
England eventually won the match by boundary count in the super over after both teams were once again tied on 15 runs. After the game got over, a controversy came to light as on field umpires had done a blunder. According to law 19.
8 of the playing conditions of the tournament, both batters should’ve crossed as Guptill released the throw for umpires to consider one extra run. However, the replays suggested that Stokes and his batting partner Adil Rashid hadn’t crossed and umpires should’ve awarded five runs instead of six. The awarding of five runs would’ve also brought Rashid on strike instead of Stokes with England needing four to win off two balls.
However, on-field umpires Kumar Dharamsena and Marais Erasmus didn’t have the luxury to consult third umpire on that occasion as a dismissal hadn’t taken a place like in the first T20I between Sri Lanka and India. As a result, the umpires backed their visions and awarded six runs to England in a historic decision which helped England win their first World Cup title. After the controversy, Kumar Dharmasena also came out in open to accept his mistake.
.
