Sri Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasaranga slammed Lyndon Hannibal after the umpire decided not to signal no-ball in the nail-biting final over of the third and last match in the T20I series against Afghanistan on Wednesday (Feb.21).
Chasing a 210-run target, Kamindu Mendis, who was on strike, for the final over with 19 needed to win. A mis-field at fine leg brought four off the first ball, with him surviving an lbw review off the second ball before scooping a boundary off the third.
Mendis could not score off the second-to-last ball delivered by Wafadar Momand which was a high full toss. However, Umpire Lyndon Hannibal deemed it a legal delivery amid mounting tension.
Though Mendis had come down the track and was slightly crouching, it looked as if it had clearly passed above waist height, had Mendis been in his crease. However, the square leg umpire was unmoved, much to Mendis’ chagrin. He attempted to review it but to no avail.
The equation became 11 off two, and while a wide lessened the equation somewhat, a dot ball confirmed victory despite a last-ball six.
During the post-match press conference, Hasaranga hit out at the umpire, saying, “This cannot happen in an international match. If it had been a bit higher it could’ve hurt the batsman. The umpire is unfit. He’d better do some other job. If a mistake was made he’s to be humble and accept the mistake. We should be able to review that decision.”
-with inputs from agencies
