Result review after last-gasp dead ball
CONFUSION reigned at Griffiths Park as both Atherton and Rovers thought they had won Saturday afternoon’s Cricket Far North first-grade match.
Rovers needed three runs off the last ball for victory, with 16-year-old Finn Churchward facing former Queensland Country representative Michael Salerno.
Churchward slapped a drive straight to cover and the ball was thrown in to Atherton wicketkeeper Caleb Constant, as the Tablelanders started to celebrate.
However, the Rovers batsmen continued to run between the wickets, and
Atherton’s elation quickly turned to panic.
Salerno tried to run Churchward out but his throw missed the stumps and Rovers brought up what they believed to be the winning runs from the overthrow.
Robust discussions between the umpire and the two team captains followed, as both sides sought clarification on the result.
In the end, Atherton was declared the winner by one run, after the ball was deemed to be a ‘ dead ball’ in Constant’s gloves.
However, the match result is being reviewed by Cricket Far North’s Fixtures and Grounds Committee.
Rovers captain Brenton
Edwards, who had to leave the match after 12 overs due to personal reasons, did not agree with the decision.
“I watched the ending on Facebook, they were livestreaming it,” he said.
“I’m totally against the decision that was made. I thought the game was still alive – one batsmen was still running, the ball wasn’t called dead. We believe we weren’t given the fair opportunity to win the game and there was no clear decision made.
“Just because the keeper’s got the ball in his hand doesn’t meant the ball is dead, especially if another batsman is still running and they (Atherton) made the decision to throw the ball to the other end so, in my eyes, the ball is deemed to still be alive. But, it is what it is. Whatever happens, we’ll move forward and look to the rest of the year.”
Atherton skipper Tom Boorman said it was a shame the way the game ended.
“It all happened pretty fast,” he said. “We thought the game was over but then there was a bit of noise from the crowd and that woke everyone up and then balls were thrown and it was a bit confusing but the umpire deemed it a dead ball so we came away with a win in the end.
“We were pretty confident it was a dead ball but there was a bit of excitement, it was bit of a shame really because the game was played in really good spirits, even afterwards we all sat out on the paddock and had a beer together.”
While the controversial finish may have stolen his thunder, Atherton’s Paul Nasser was on fire with the bat, earning praise from his and his opposition’s captain.
“That’s pretty special,” Boorman said.
“I can’t remember anyone else doing that, certainly since I’ve played anyway.”
Edwards said Nasser was “nothing but class”.
“I think at one point he got 30 off 70 balls and then to go on and get 100 in pretty good time just shows his maturity as a player, even at this age,” he said.