IRE vs NZ: Simi Singh survives as umpire reverses decision in bizarre on-field incident

During the second ODI between Ireland and New Zealand in the ongoing three-match series on July 12, Tuesday, a bizarre incident took center stage as one of the on-field umpires, Paul Reynolds, reversed his decision after ruling Ireland batter Simi Singh out. New Zealand went on to win by three wickets, chasing a target of 217.

It was a good length ball outside off-stump by the Kiwi seamer Blair Tickner, and Singh played it late as he tried to poke it in the third-man region. It caught the outside edge off Singh’s willow and went into wicketkeeper Tom Latham’s gloves. The umpire initially raised his finger but later changed his decision since the bowler had dropped his towel while delivering the ball.

Although this is a very rare occurrence on a cricket field, it was well within the rules. According to law 20.4.2.6 of the MCC laws of cricket, an umpire can deem a ball dead if the striker is distracted by any noise or movement or in any other way while preparing to receive, or receiving a delivery. This shall apply whether the source of the distraction is within the match or outside it.

The 20.4.2.7 law states that an umpire can deem a ball dead if there is an instance of a deliberate attempt to distract under either of Laws 41.4 (Deliberate attempt to distract striker) or 41.5 (Deliberate distraction, deception, or obstruction of a batter).

Singh came in at number eight and scored 16 runs off 25 balls before getting run out in the 46th over. Ireland were bowled out for 216 runs in 48 overs and George Dockrell top scored with 74 runs off 61 balls. New Zealand opener Fin Allen scored 60 runs off 58 balls and skipper Latham scored 55 runs off 73 balls. The finishing job for the Kiwis was carried out yet again by all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who scored an unbeaten 42 runs off 40 balls as the Kiwis chased the target in only 38.1 overs.