Sri Lanka went all the way down to West Indies by eight wickets within the first ODI in Antigua on Wednesday (March 10) however the recreation wasn’t with out its share of controversy. Lankan opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka was unlucky to stroll again after a rare dismissal – obstructing the sector – when he was going sturdy within the center.
Gunathilaka had scored 55 and placed on 105 in a gap stand with captain Dimuth Karunaratne, which appeared to place Sri Lanka heading in the right direction to a commanding whole after shedding the toss and batting first. Karunaratne was out for 52, caught and bowled by West Indies captain Kieron Pollard along with his second supply.
But the match turned ugly when, within the twenty first over, Gunathilaka was judged to have obstructed the sector when he trod on the ball whereas Pollard was making an attempt to have an effect on a run out. Pollard bowled a brief ball which Gunathilaka fended away.
Pathum Nissanka set off for a single however Gunathilaka, after advancing down the pitch, despatched him again and stepped again into his personal crease. As he did so, he stepped on the ball and knocked it backwards.
Pollard instantly appealed and on-field umpire Joe Wilson gave a comfortable sign of out earlier than tv umpire Nigel Guguid dominated that Gunathilaka had intentionally tried to foil the run out. There gave the impression to be little proof the batsman had acted intentionally.
Here’s the video of the dismissal…
Sri Lanka’s Danushka Gunathilaka Given Out Obstructing The Field In First ODI Against West Indiespic.twitter.com/0yzDBK66cz
— Venkat Parthasarathy (@Venkrek) March 10, 2021
The Marylebone Cricket Club, guardians of the Laws of cricket, stated: “The key part of the obstructing the field Law (37.2/37.3) is intent – which can be hard to judge. If the obstruction is wilful, it will be out, but if it’s accidental then it will be not out.”
The Sri Lanka innings misplaced its means from that time and from 112/2, the guests have been bundled out for 232 in 49 overs. The West Indies surpassed that whole with Shai Hope making 110 and his opening accomplice Evin Lewis including 65.
Sri Lanka’s director of cricket and former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody slammed the choice to ship again Gunathilaka.
“Wilful obstruction” no means was that wilful… #shocker #WIvSL
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 10, 2021
“We got a nice start but we lost a couple of wickets,” Karunaratne stated. “In the end we were short of 30-40 runs. If me and Danushka could have batted longer it would have been a different story,” he added.
Pollard acknowledged the dismissal of the Sri Lanka openers in fast succession modified the course of the innings and the match. “They were 100 without loss and we were looking at a chase of 300,” Pollard stated.
Pollard was seen patching issues up on the finish of the match with Gunathilaka.
@KieronPollard55 and @danushka_70 had a chat at shut of play. #SpiritOfCricket #WIvSL pic.twitter.com/FowckA7ajx
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 10, 2021
