Two-run win for Karnataka stokes big controversy
TWO RUNS WERE ADDED TO KARNATAKA TOTAL, OWING TO AN UMPIRING ERROR, THE MARGIN BY WHICH HYDERABAD LOST EVENTUALLY
NEW DELHI: Hyderabad were left fuming and blamed a late revision of score by the umpires for their two-run defeat against Karnataka in a Mushtaq Ali South Zone Twenty20 game in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
Karnataka, batting first, were deemed to have scored 203/5 but the umpires added two runs after it came to light that Hyderabad fielder Mehdi Hasan’s foot had touched the rope which attempting to stop a ball at midwicket. The batsman had run two.
Umpires Abhijit Deshmukh and Ulhas Gandhe didn’t stop play for a review, but revised the score to 205/5 before Hyderabad began their chase. Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar as well as his Hyderabad counterpart, Ambati Rayudu argued with the umpires before the Hyderabad innings began. Rayudu was left fuming after his Hyderabad side, restricted to 203/9, returned to the field assuming the match had ended in a tie and there would be a Super Over. Hyderabad’s protests on the field also delayed the next match, between Andhra and Kerala, which then had to be reduced to 13-overs-each game. However, skipper Rayudu also blamed Vinay Kumar for holding up play over the final score before his team began the chase.
“There was some confusion in the middle at the start of our innings,” Rayudu was quoted as saying by EspnCricinfo.com “I told the umpire he can’t change the score (now) and we are chasing 204. He told me ‘we’ll see in the end, let the match start’.”
“The BCCI has taken cognizance of the events that unfolded during and after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018 match today between Hyderabad-Karnataka,” it tweeted.
MUMBAI WIN
RAJKOT: Mumbai registered a thumping seven-wicket win over arch rivals Maharashtra in the West Zone League match.
For Mumbai, medium pacer Akash Parkar starred, picking up three wickets to help his side bundle out Maharashtra for a meagre 89. Parkar, who returned with the impressive figures of 3-22, was superbly aided by all other bowlers - Shivam Dube (2-7), Parikshit Valsangkar (2-22), experienced Shardul Thakur (1-13) and Dhawal Kulkarni (1-20).