Video | PSL 2018 : Drama and confusion on the last ball leaves everyone puzzled
Controversies seem to be a regular thing in cricket now. A last over, filled with drama, created a new debate in the 24th game of this year's PSL as Usman Khan dismissed Sohail Akhtar on the last ball, which was a no-ball, but the confusion was about how many runs were required of the last ball.
The 3rd season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was underway on February 22. Karachi Kings had won their first three games before the game against Multan Sultans was abandoned due to rain. They then lost their next two games before bouncing back with a crushing 63-run win against Multan Sultans. On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars lost six games on the trot before finally winning one against Multan Sultans.Â
In the 24th game of this season, both Karachi Kings (KK) and Lahore Qalandars (LQ) were looking to carry the winning momentum forward. After opting to bowl first, the Lahore restricted Karachi to 163. Lendl Simmons (55) and Babar Azam (61) had scored
It all boiled down to the final over of the game where the Qalandars required 16 runs off 6 deliveries. Sohail Akhtar and Mitchell McClenaghan were the two batsmen in the middle while Usman Khan was entrusted with the final over duties.Â
The 32-year old Lahore allrounder, Akhtar, released all the pressure by scoring 12 runs off the first three deliveries in the final over. However, McClenaghan was run out of the fourth ball and a single was taken off the fifth as the equation came down to 3 runs off the final delivery. There was a long chat between Shahid Afridi and the bowler Usman Khan before the last delivery was bowled.Â
Usman bowled a full-length delivery which was slogged down the ground by Sohail Akhtar. But Ravi Bopara kept his cool and took a superb catch at long-on. It had seemed Lahore had fallen short once again. But to their surprise, Usman had overstepped and they received another life.Â
However, the confusion and drama started after the third umpire deemed it a no-ball. The deliberation was regarding the number of runs to be awarded to the Qalandars as the batsmen had crossed over for a single. The third umpire had a look at several replays to confirm where the batsmen had completed the run before the catch was completed. Eventually, the umpires awarded the team one run as they deemed the batsmen had not completed a run when the catch was taken.Â
The batsmen had crossed before the catch was taken and with an additional run from the no-ball, Qalandars ideally should have needed just one off the final delivery. However, the umpires clarified that since the no-ball wasn't given on the field, the run from the batsmen would not be counted. However, bizarrely, they allowed a change of strike and let Gulraiz Sadaf face the last ball instead of Akhtar.Â
Sadaf could only manage a single on the final delivery (which was a free-hit) as he was run out trying to go for the second. The match was tied and the game went into a Super Over. This was the second Super Over of this season.Â
In the Super Over, Sunil Narine defended 11 runs to help Lahore Qalandars get their second win of this season. Sameen Rana, the CEO of the Qalandars, acknowledged there was plenty of confusion and no clarity on the rule either.
“Whatever happened today, I'll be honest, we didn't know the law. What we thought was since the batsmen crossed and then there was a no-ball as well, we needed just one run on the final ball. The umpires told us that when they don't signal the no-ball on the field, and it's given after a review, the run(s) on the ball aren't counted,” he stated.Â
Brendon McCullum, the Qalandars captain, too seemed lost for words. “I still don't understand the rule,” the former Kiwi skipper said after the game.
Kumar Sangakkara, just like McCullum, was searching for answers. He tweeted -
This is why a solution for calling of no balls or required. If the umpire had called the no ball the batsmen would have run. If it had been a dead ball wasn’t the wrong batsman on strike? Please correct me if I’m wrong
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) March 11, 2018