No ball, free hit explained: The rules that sealed Indian victory
Everyone ran for the rule book after India’s thrilling triumph against Pakistan on the decisive last ball on Sunday at the MCG.
In front of 90,000 spectators at the MCG, India defeated Pakistan in an incredible final ball victory thanks to an over-the-waist no ball and three byes off the next free shot.
Supporters of Pakistan were forced to consider two umpiring decisions in the final over while India supporters were in a trance from their T20 World Cup victory.
Some people were perplexed and reached for the rule book after a no ball decision for a spinner’s full toss above the waist and following runs taken despite Virat Kohli’s stumps being rocked off the free hit.
Virat Kohli hit a full toss over the square leg boundary on the fourth ball of the match’s final over, bowled by Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz, and then stuck his arm out to signal no ball.
The India mastermind, who would later consider it as his best innings in the format, displayed remarkable calmness and presence of mind in a high-stress situation.
Marais Erasmus, a highly regarded and experienced South African umpire, made the choice to rule on height while standing at square leg.
He originally missed Kohli’s request for a no ball as he turned to watch Kohli’s shot sail towards the boundary as Asif Ali tried unsuccessfully to keep it in the field of play.
Standing umpire Rod Tucker called a no ball after Erasmus said the delivery was above the waist and the six was officially called.
“Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, beyond waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is to be judged to be unfair,” states clause 41.7.1 of the Laws of Cricket and the ICC’s T20 World Cup playing rules.
Previously, slow bowlers could only be no-balled for full tosses above shoulder height. This distinction between fast and slow bowling was removed when the laws were updated in 2017.
India’s ecstasy at Babar Azam’s first-ball out
Although the square leg umpire’s judgement of whether the ball was above waist height or not is still up for debate.
The event reminded me of a thrilling Australia vs. India women’s ODI from September of last year, when an Australian victory was saved by a no-ball ruling for a waist-high full toss.
No ball, free hit explained: The rules that sealed Indian victory
As a result of Australia all-rounder Nicola Carey being caught off the full toss, the third umpire was able to make a decisive intervention to reconsider the call in that particular case.
Under the rules of play established by the ICC, there was no opportunity to review the no-ball ruling since Kohli’s stroke resulted in a six.
Before Erasmus arrived from square leg to clarify, the Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Tucker were engaged in an animated discussion. This seemed to calm the situation.
With a free hit still to come, the equation now read: six runs from three balls for India. Nawaz, under pressure, miscued his delivery.
After that, Nawaz bowled an inch-perfect yorker that Kohli’s bat couldn’t handle as he attempted a slog sweep and smacked into his stumps.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, it was still a free hit, which caused uncertainty on the fielding side.
Nawaz first appeared to celebrate the wicket, but Pakistani wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan yelled for a dead ball while raising his arms. Shaheen Shah Afridi took a moment to observe what was happening at the crease before turning to pursue, losing precious time. Rizwan pulled a stump out of the ground as the throw came in after the stumps had been broken.
It appeared as though veteran Indian pundit Harsha Bhogle on the broadcast thought it might be a dead ball. During his call, he remarked, “They take the run, but undoubtedly, since it’s hit the stumps.
The MCG’s more than 90,000 spectators erupted in jubilation or agony the entire time.
In a similar situation, Perth’s Piepa Cleary missed a scoop attempt on a free hit last week in the Weber WBBL. As a result, she was “bowled” by Annabel Sutherland, and the ball sped off to the boundary, giving the Scorchers four byes.
As Rizwan and Babar argued their cases before the umpires, Tucker and Erasmus briefly spoke before Tucker gave the bye-bye signal, and Nawaz flung the ball into the pitch out of desperation.
“For any free hit, the striker can be disqualified only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball,” states clause 21.19.2 of the playing conditions.
In other words, a batter can only be out on a free hit if they are run out, cause a hazard to the field, or hit the ball twice.
Since Kohli was not dismissed despite being “bowled,” the ball was still alive and in play.
Sunday at the MCG, Kohli and Ashwin celebrate their winning runs against Pakistan.
Sunday at the MCG, Kohli and Ashwin celebrate their winning runs against Pakistan.
Umpires may declare a ball dead for a variety of reasons, including a wicket, a boundary, when it rests in the keeper’s gloves, or when it is returned to the bowler, however none of those conditions were present in this case.
India were able to sneak through for three byes thanks to the ball ricocheting off the stumps and past Shaheen in the gully and down towards the boundary.
Rizwan was able to stump Dinesh Karthik by swooping on a ball that left the batter’s pads after being slanted down the leg side and needed two off two.
Ravichandran Ashwin calmly watched the ball slide past behind him for a wide to tie the game before bunting the final ball over mid-off for the game-winning runs. Nawaz once again fired down leg to the new batter.
Even though it took more than 12 minutes to bowl the ball over, nobody seemed to mind given the drama and excitement.
