ENG vs NZ | Twitter reacts to Kumar Dharmasenaâs unsuccessful assist for Kiwis to redeem 2019 final gaffe
A glaring Kumar Dharmasena error in a World Cup game between England and New Zealand, sound familiar? Following his antics in the 2019 final, the umpire was at it again in the 2023 opener as he guided New Zealand during a DRS discussion, only for the Black Caps to foolishly ignore him all the same.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to field first at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday in a bid to reverse their fortunes from the iconic final four years ago. Unlike that game, however, Dawid Malan walked out to open in Ahmedabad alongside Jonny Bairstow and was the subject of a huge appeal very early on in the innings but in an eerily similar fashion, it was Kumar Dharmasena who was once again thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Matt Henry took the new ball in the second over of the game and had Malan charging down the track on the very first delivery. A hint of movement meant the opener was struck on his pads, provoking a loud shout from the opposition. However, the umpire Kumar Dharmasena stood his ground and in an unprecedented act, immediately gestured that the ball was too high. In the DRS era, the officials are not supposed to provide any help to the on-field players before the 15-second timer for the appeal runs out. Nevertheless, the umpireâs interference proved to be inconsequential as stand-in skipper Tom Latham ended up taking a review anyway which simply confirmed Dharmasenaâs suspicion.
Twitterati was quick to pounce upon Dharmasenaâs unrequited kindness, labelling it as the Sri Lankanâs attempt at correcting the injustice of the 2019 final where he had incorrectly awarded a decisive extra run to the English. Â
Are you kidding?
â Vivek Pant (@ManasSingh45)Â October 5, 2023
Living Legend!
There is a reason why he is called one of the best umpires in the cricketing world currently
â Sanil (@snooker_san)Â October 5, 2023
Dharamsena already signalled the bowler height was an issue
Kiwis go for a review and loss out on them due to height#ENGvsNZ
Only he knows about it!
Why did dharamsena indicate height before the 12 second mark?
â Ashwin Baliga (@aabee92)Â October 5, 2023
Hahaha!
dharamsena and nz lol
â s (@plentifullsoul)Â October 5, 2023
Few things doesn't change!
4 saal ho gaye, dharamsena nahi badla#nostalgia
â mayoos majdoor (@mayoos_majdoor)Â October 5, 2023
They themselves!
Name me a better live story than Newzeland and kumar dharamsena
â Amit (@kaleboyy)Â October 5, 2023
Easy!
New Zealand lost their first review in the second over.
â VIDHAN PANDEY (@VIDHANPANDEY33)Â October 5, 2023
- Trent Boult conceded 12 runs in the first over against Jonny Bairstow
- Matt Henry bowled the first maiden of the World Cup 2023 against Dawid Malan in the second over.#ENGvsNZ #CricketWorldCup2023 #ODIWorldCup pic.twitter.com/pxhkwm0FAT
That was not needed!
New Zealand lost their first review in the second over.
â Tanveer Hassan (@tanveercric56_)Â October 5, 2023
- Trent Boult conceded 12 runs in the first over against Jonny Bairstow
- Matt Henry bowled the first maiden of the World Cup 2023 against Dawid Malan in the second over.#ENGvsNZÂ #CricketWorldCup2023Â pic.twitter.com/BBhuRk9on1
He will do it better this time!
So pleased to see you @KumarDofficial umpiring at the opening work cup match England đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż vs New Zealand đłđż
â Shan Mathotage (@ShanMathotage)Â October 5, 2023
You are a legend. It was proven by that very first LBW not out review đ#CWC2023 #ICCCricketWorldCup #icccricketworldcup2023 #CricketWorldCup2023 #ENGvsNZ
Yes! They lost.
New Zealand lost their First Review #WorldCup | #CWC23 | #ENGvsNZ | #ENGvNZ | #icccricketworldcup2023 | #ICCCricketWorldCup pic.twitter.com/WKPt0jgDzm
â M.Bilal (@m_bilal_fazal)Â October 5, 2023