Aiden Markram’s hat hit the ball when he tried to save a boundary at the beginning of England’s run chase. However, only two runs were awarded to the batting team. Here’s why England weren’t given penalty runs during that incident in the 2023 World Cup.
Markram, who was acting as stand-in captain in place of the sick Themba Bavuma, made a save on the final ball of Dawid Malan’s bat on what looked like a boundary. He chased the ball at midwicket and made a diving stop to save an important run for his team. He ensured that the ball stayed inside the rope while his hat, which came off midway through, touched the ball. Even though the ball touched Markram’s headgear, ground umpire Nitin Menon awarded two runs.
Rule 28.2.2 states: “It is not illegal fielding if the ball in play comes into contact with clothing, equipment, or other objects that accidentally fall off the body of a fielder or are dropped by an umpire. ” If the ball hits the helmet placed behind the wicketkeeper, a penalty run can occur. But as the law makes clear, these are two different situations
Contrary to this ruling, South Africa awarded five penalties in the 2022 T20 World Cup Super 12 match against Zimbabwe. Quinton de Kock let go of the wicketkeeper’s gloves to create a run-out chance against Milton Shumba. Lungi Ngidi threw the ball and it hit a discarded glove lying on the ground.
The referee immediately awarded Zimbabwe five penalty runs and declared the ball dead. He issued Law 28.2.1.3, which states that a fielder “unlawfully fields the ball if he intentionally throws the ball while it is in play.” Then remove clothing, equipment, and other objects that come into contact with the ball. ” .”
In other words, the difference between today’s ruling and the T20 World Cup ruling lies in the intention of the fielder. Markram purposefully did not remove his clothes, while de Kock did.
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