Shocking Decision By 3rd Umpire In Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka Test
Jul 18, 2017 at 2:39 PM
After winning the ODI series 3-2 against Sri Lanka, the African minnows have yet again put up a strong fight in the one off solitary Test which is being played at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match is evenly poised at this point in time with Sri Lanka needing 100 odd runs with 5 wickets remaining.
Chasing 388 to win, Sri Lanka lost half their side with the score at 203/5 but wicket keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella had some other plans. The southpaw smashed the Zimbabwe bowlers all round the park to regain the momentum back. However, Dickwella shouldn’t have been there in the middle had the umpire ruled him out in the 69th over of Sikandar Raza.
Until then Raza was smashed by Dickwella all around Colombo and even in that over Dickwella had already smashed 8 runs in 3 balls when he was beaten in the 4th delivery. Wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva whipped off the bails in a flash and the on-field umpire went upstairs to the 3rd umpire. The big screen displayed that Dickwella’s foot was on the line and nothing was behind it.
Chettithody Shamsuddin, the 3rd umpire after looking at different frames and different angles eventually ruled it in favour of the batting team which left the Zimbabwe players bamboozled. They had seen what actually happened on the giant screen and they were obviously very disappointed as they thought the foot was definitely on the line and there was nothing beyond that.
The 3rd umpire wasn’t convinced so he gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman in the end. Batting coach Lance Klusner was already seen celebrating in the dressing room while Heath Streak also made his intentions felt and clearly looked disappointed with the decision.
As per the rules of cricket if a batsman doesn’t have his bat or any part of the body behind the crease before the bails are whipped off he is considered out. If the foot is on the line but doesn’t cross it, the batsman is considered to be out but the line belongs to the umpire. However, the 3rd umpire is entitled to give the benefit of the doubt to batsman if he feels there is no conclusive evidence but was there enough doubt for the umpire to give Dickwella not out?
Here is the video:
This is what the third ump saw?#SLvZIM pic.twitter.com/Fm4XLCs8lK
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 18, 2017