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Cricket fans left stunned as rare Aussie dismissal sparks heated debate

An extraordinary moment in Sydney club cricket left many questioning the difference between a long-range stumping and a runout.

adam lucius
Contributor
·3-min read
Jay Lenton, pictured here pulling off an extraordinary long-range runout in Sydney grade cricket.
Jay Lenton pulled off an extraordinary long-range runout in Sydney grade cricket. Image: Manly Cricket

A bizarre dismissal in Sydney club cricket has left fans asking for clarification on the difference between a long-range stumping and a runout. Northern District was cruising at 3-110 chasing 190 and in a strong position to record an unlikely qualifying final victory over leading NSW Premier League club Manly-Warringah when wicket-keeper Jay Lenton pulled something special from out of the box.

Gloving a leg-side delivery from NSW and Sydney Sixers all-rounder Jack Edwards, Lenton casually back-handed the ball towards the pitch from 20m behind the stumps. Incredibly, it hit middle stump with NDs top order batsman Lachlan Shaw out of his crease, sparking wild celebrations from Lenton and teammates.

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Manly went on to win the game after bowling their opposition out 35 runs short of the winning target. But the big question after the game surrounded the official ruling on Lenton's quick-thinking dismissal.

Was it a run out or was it a stumping? The official match scorers originally had it down as a run out, robbing Edwards of a 10-wicket haul for the match.

But after a conversation with the umpires at stumps, the dismissal was eventually changed from a runout to a stumping and Edwards had his 10 scalps thanks to Lenton's ingenuity.

Lachlan Shaw's dismissal, pictured here originally being scored as a Jay Lenton runout.
Lachlan Shaw's dismissal was originally scored as a Jay Lenton runout.
The scorecard, pictured here after the match.
It was later changed to a stumping, giving Jack Edwards 10 wickets for the match.

Jay Lenton speaks out about unusual dismissal

The keeper told Yahoo Sport Australia: "I noticed he moved forward a bit and I threw the ball in hope more than anything…I didn’t think of it working at all. As soon as it hit the stumps it all clicked that it might just be out and it was.

"There was a bit of confusion (about the mode of dismissal) and the scorers had it down as a run out, but it was definitely a stumping and they changed it. I've had a few stumpings in my career but nothing like that."

Jay Lenton, pictured here in action for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.
Jay Lenton in action for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL. (Photo by Mike Owen - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Former Test umpire and member of the MCC laws committee, Simon Taufel, confirmed the correct call had eventually been made on the dismissal. He told us: "Spot on (it was a stumping).

"I've seen a few of these, normally when the batter is not thinking and doesn’t stay in the crease/moment. If the umpire deems no run is being attempted, it is a stumping."

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