Since the Decision Review System (DRS) has been introduced, we have still experienced some confusion. Most recently, the DRS has again entered to the controversy during the ODI match between South Africa and England at Johannesburg.
It was the series-decider last game of the three-match ODI series that was played on last Sunday (9th February). After winning the toss, the visitors England decided to field first, who were trailing that series by 1-0.
Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen were involved in that DRS controversy
During that first innings, the DRS controversy came into the light. The whole incident happened in the 21st over of that innings. On the third ball of that over of Adil Rashid, when the Proteas cricketer Temba Bavuma was given lbw out, Bavuma took the DRS. Due to the unavailability of UltraEdge, the third umpire couldn’t check whether the bat involved or not, and ultimately he had to go with the out decision as the ball was properly hitting the stumps.
On the very next ball, the new batsman Rassie van der Dussen was given lbw out. The Proteas batsman took the review against that decision while the England camp was confused and unhappy on the acceptance of that DRS request.
As Bavuma was cleanly lbw out, the only review for South Africa in that innings should have been wasted. But while there was the unavailability of UltraEdge, the third umpire went with the umpire’s call. So, according to the present umpire’s call rule, the review can’t be wasted.
Due to that DRS, Rassie van der Dussen saved his wicket as the ball was missing leg-stump. However, he only managed to score five runs as Moeen Ali bowled him in the next over.
England won that match
The hosts South Africa managed to score 256/7 (50 overs). The opening batsman and captain Quinton de Kock scored 69 runs off 81 balls while David Miller remained not out on 69 runs off 53 balls.
In reply, England got a good start, and they were chasing the target comfortably. But in the very late moment, the English batting faced big collapse. However, they finally managed to chase that target in 43.2 overs after losing eight wickets. The top three run-scorers in that innings were Joe Denly (66), Joe Root (49) and the opener Jonny Bairstow (43). With that victory, the visitors managed to save that series as it ended with the 1-1 margin.