Incident mars cricket

Press, 7 January 1987, Page 17

Incident mars cricket

NZPA-AAP Perth The final of the Benson and Hedges Challenge between England and Pakistan today could develop into a spiteful, affair after an unfortunate incident in what amounted to a practice cricket match between the two teams at the WA.C.A. Ground at Perth on Monday evening. The incident, which dampened England’s three-wicket win with just two balls to spare, involved the controversial run-out of Pakistan batsman, Rameez Raja, in the twenty-eighth over of the game. Rameez hit a no-ball from the England captain, Mike Gatting, straight to midwicket where Bill Athey completed a “catch". The Pakistani did not hear the no-ball called and after tucking his bat under his

arm. walked straight towards the pavilion. Athey, seeing Rameez out of his ground, returned the ball to the wicket-keeper. Jack Richards, who broke the wicket and appealed for a run-out

The umpire, Mr Dick French, gave Rameez out but law 38 (2) of the game says, “If a no-ball has been called, the striker shall not be given run out unless he attempts to run.”

Nobody could possibly have construed Rameez as having attempted a ran, and the umpire’s lack of application of a law he should be familiar with, was mystifying. Just as mystifying were the actions of Athey and Richards in sneakily attempting to dismiss Rameez in a game of no consequence. Gatting showed what he

thought of the whole affair by covering his eyes with hM hands as Rameez trudged off the field for the second time. The Pakistan skipper, Imran Khan, refused to Marne the incident for Ms team's defeat, but did not Mde his feelings toward the umpire, Mr French. “It was bad umpiring," said Imran Khan. The match, a prelude to the final attracted the smallest crowd of the Challenge series, 9304, because of its lack of real competitive interest. IEngland's victory came when it surpassed Pakistan’s total of five for 22# in the fiftieth over the its score at seven for 232. Scores.— England 232/7 (Broad 97, Athey 42) beat Pakistan 229/5 (Mohammed 66, Miandad 59; Emburty.2/ 65) by three wickets.