The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) who govern the laws of cricket have issued a statement on the controversial dismissal of Deandra Dottin in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday at the Grenada National Stadium
They addressed the mater on Monday and concluded that the umpire was right in the decision to give Dottin “out” and therefore became the first West Indies women cricketer in history to be dismissed obstructing the field.
Chasing a 209-run target for victory, the hosts were 115-5 in the 30th over when Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a delivery down the leg side. Dottin, on 13 at the time, missed a sweep shot, and the umpire signaled a wide.
However, the ball ballooned off the pads of wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana into the air back towards the pitch, with Dottin tapped the ball with her bat and then caught it in her left glove. Athapaththu and Nuthyangana immediately appealed for obstructing the field, with Dottin eventually adjudged “out”.
Although her actions were seemingly harmless, the Laws of Cricket state that a batter cannot use a hand not holding the bat to deliberately touch the ball.
“The striker is out obstructing the field if in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, they wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat,” Article 37.1.2 says.
Sri Lanka lead the series 2-0 with the third and final match scheduled to be played at the same venue on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
Right Call. Ball NOT dead yet.
Y was the MCC involved? The Umpires Ruled, did a team object? Maybe the Inperial MCC think they can govern but the Imperial WI Federation failed before most of the former WI colonies became independent and we in the WI were independent a long time ago and so is Sri Lanka. If either team asked for MCC clarification then God help us we are still their “stupid ignorant subjects” who must be guided and controlled by The Imperial administrators of the Magestic British Rulers.