It happened on the final delivery of the 14th over.
The drama unfolded during India’s first game against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 when Amelia Kerr tried to steal a single. It happened on the final delivery of the 14th over.
Amelia Kerr worked a length delivery towards the long-off region and completed an easy single, and the fielder, Harmanpreet Kaur, collected the ball but didn’t throw it. The two Kiwi batters thought they could take another run and ran, but Harmanpreet immediately fired the throw to the wicketkeeper.
Amelia couldn’t make it to her crease and started returning to the pavilion, giving India a massive breakthrough out of nowhere. However, the replays showed that the over was completed by the time she went for the second run, so the ball became dead.
The on-field umpire was seen returning the cap to the bowler, which concluded that the ball was no longer in play, and anything happening after it was irrelevant. Harmanpreet and Indian coaches had a lengthy argument with match officials, but they had to continue without getting any reward as Amelia got a lifeline.
According to MCC Laws clause 20.1, “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”
However, New Zealand didn’t consider the ball dead, and both batters were interested in stealing another run, so the ball was in play. That means Amelia should have been adjudged out.
According to clause 20.6, “Once the ball is dead, no revoking of any decision can bring the ball back into play for that delivery.”
The umpires deemed the ball dead, and if they call it dead, the decision can not be changed. It was the umpire’s fault for considering the ball not in play, and their error in judgement cost India a wicket.
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