South African Opener Dismissed Obstructing The Field In The U19 World Cup

Was this the right call?


17 January 2018

Ethan Meldrum

Image: ICC

The obstructing the field dismissal has reared up again, this time with some controversy in the Under 19 World Cup.

South African opener Jiveshan Pillay was given out for obstructing the field against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The batsman, who was on 47 at the time, inside edged a drive onto his pads, with the ball coming to a halt near the stumps.

Once the ball had stopped Pillay picked the ball up and tossed it back to the wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart - also the West Indies captain.

Stewart was clearly heard on the stump mic appealing to the umpires after receiving the ball.

The umpires, after much deliberation, gave the batsman out after the West Indies upheld their appeal.

It's the second such dismissal in a week, following what happened to Heat batsman Alex Ross against the Hurricanes last Wednesday.

Ross said he diverted his line coming back from a second run in an attempt to dodge the incoming throw, but was given out.

Rule 37.4 of the Laws of Cricket state either batsman is out if "at any time while the ball is in play and without the consent of a fielder, he uses his bat or any part of his person, including a hand not holding the bat, to return the ball to any fielder".

But plenty of viewers believed the decision against Pillay was against the spirit of cricket.

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