'What a joke': Cricket world erupts over 'ridiculous' umpiring drama
The ODI between England and South Africa was plunged into chaos after Adil Rashid was denied a wicket from DRS due to an issue with technology the previous review.
World champions England won the toss and elected to field on Sunday, restricting their hosts to 256 for seven in 50 overs, a below-par score on a day when the players wore pink to raise money for breast cancer awareness.
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The touring side looked composed in their chase, apart from some late jitters, as Joe Denly top-scored with 66, reaching their target with 40 balls to spare to claim a share of the series after the second game was washed out by rain.
But the game stopped for a while when England were bowling when spinner Rashid thought he trapped Rassie van der Dussen for LBW on the batsman’s first ball.
Van der Dussen was given out and walked, but well after the 15-second limit players are afforded to review a decision the umpires told the South African batsman he could send it to the third umpire.
South Africa thought they were out of reviews because Temba Bavuma had unsuccessfully used the team’s final review the previous delivery when he thought he may have got bat on ball in an LBW review.
But to their surprise this was controversially overturned when South Africa were told a piece of technology - UltraEdge - was not working on the previous review and therefore it was returned.
UltraEgde is the technology that shows whether the ball has hit the bat.
Van der Dussen appeared confused but reviewed the decision on the boundary rope, which once again baffled everyone in the ground.
The review showed the ball was missing the stumps and he made the long walk back to the crease.
Unfortunately for South Africa, van der Dussen was dismissed for five runs not long after.
Was it the right decision to allow South Africa to retain their review when UltraEdge wasn't available for the Temba Bavuma dismissal?
Here's what the ICC ODI Playing Conditions say on the matter.https://t.co/qJXxD3un3E | #SAvENG | #PinkDay pic.twitter.com/nrHHd3IlkI— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 9, 2020
England captain bemoans confusion
"It wasn't quite clear. Everything lacked a bit of communication,” captain Eoin Morgan said after the game.
"When Bavuma was out nothing was relayed to say South Africa had a referral left. That was what caused the confusion. It took some explaining. It was very confusing and something we will have to get clarity on from the match referee."
Fans were left fuming after a lack of clarity and a view that South Africa shouldn’t have been given the review again because the third umpire didn’t need UltraEdge to see Bavuma didn’t hit the ball.
Didn't have the full technology, which would have came to the exact same conclusion regardless, so for some bizarre reason South Africa retain their review? What a joke. Ridiculous. #SAvsENG
— Aaron (@Crossie94) February 9, 2020
You could see a clear gap between bat and ball for Bavuma’s wicket. Utter shambles.
— Jack (@X5Dappo) February 9, 2020
Despite there being daylight between bat and ball for the first wicket, they get another review. Unbelievable
— Jed (@OlliePopeSzn) February 9, 2020
He’s walked without reviewing, time lapsed so shouldn’t be able to review, umpire shouldn’t be sending him back to do it, umpires wrong
— paul barker (@stains7) February 9, 2020
Was a dreaful decision by the umpire so as he was not out and there is no complaint. Bavuma's was a dreadful review. If umpires could refrain from giving batsmen out on marginal calls I would do away with DRS.
— Graham Smith (@glurcher) February 9, 2020
Morgan praised team
The teams meet in a three-match Twenty20 International series which starts on Wednesday in East London, and concludes next Sunday in Pretoria.
"I thought we bowled well today," England captain Eoin Morgan said.
"Adil and Mo (Ali coming in and showing their value, Adil with the control and variation, he was outstanding.
"I thought the chase was well within our grasp and it was disappointing to limp over the line. We should have done it four or five down with the partnerships we had."
South Africa struggled to build momentum in their innings, with captain De Kock (69 from 81 balls) and David Miller (69 not out from 53 balls) leading their charge.
Rashid proved a handful for the top order as he trapped Bavuma (29) lbw and bowled De Kock, removing South Africa's two batting stars from their victory in the opening ODI in Cape Town.
Miller's imperious hitting towards the end of the innings, in which he bludgeoned four massive sixes, took the home side past 250 when it had looked as though they would fall short of that mark.
Jason Roy (21) and Jonny Bairstow (43) rocketed England to 61 in 6.2 overs in reply before both fell in quick succession.
When Morgan (9) was caught and bowled by seamer Beuran Hendricks (3-59) South Africa felt in the game, but Joe Root (49) and Denly provided the stability through the middle order to take their side to within sight of victory.
The home team were given hope when England lost four wickets for the addition of 20 runs as Lungi Ngidi (3-63) recovered from a poor start to rattle the visitors.
But Ali (17 from 16 balls) provided the steadying hand for England to seal the win.
With AAP
