Pakistan Women are currently on a three-match ODI and three-match T20I tour in Australia. On Saturday (21st January), the host whitewashed the Women in Green in the ODI leg of the series. In the final moments of the first innings, a bizarre incident has been going viral on the internet.
On the first ball of the final over, the Pakistan wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali missed out on an easy runout opportunity of the well-set batter, Jess Jonassen. The keeper had a great chance to hit the stumps as the batter was out of her crease. However, she did not and slid in to hit the stumps with her hands.
Here is the incident from Australia vs Pakistan encounter
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Later in the game, another controversial incident sparked a major debate online. In the 27th over of the second innings, Tahlia McGrath bowled a straight delivery onto the stumps, but the batter Nida Dar left it at the last moment after the ball was released.
Even though the ball was eventually dubbed a dead ball, it sparked a massive internet debate. While some fans believed that a batter could not pull out this late and that the decision should be reversed, others believed that the batter was correct if she was distracted.
According to law 20.4.2.5, if the umpire believes the batter was distracted, he or she may withdraw at any time. “The striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over,” reads law 20.4.2.5.
If Dar was initially prepared to face the ball before being distracted, law 20.4.2.6 would apply, which states that a dead ball is signalled if “the striker is distracted by any noise or movement or in any other way while preparing to receive, or receiving a delivery.”
