David Miller was left frustrated on the field after an athletic catch. Gujarat Titans (GT) were denied a wicket in the last over despite Alzarri Joseph bowling a legitimate delivery to get Mahipal Lomror’s wicket. Joseph did not overstep, bowl a beamer or a delivery that bounced twice before the batter hit it but still could not get a wicket.
The spidercam wire became the villain for Hardik Pandya-led Titans as what could have been a wicket turned out to be a dead ball. It was not a big deflection. The shot did not have enough power to go over the boundary line or miss Miller, who had positioned himself nicely for the catch.
The fourth delivery of the last over, Lomror mistimed an aerial shot off Joseph. The ball went high up in the air and then long-on fielder Miller took an excellent catch in the deep. However, Lomror did not leave the field.
From the next three deliveries, Lomror scored six runs including a boundary. However, Miller and Joseph had the last laugh as Lomror got out in a similar fashion off the last ball of the innings. The South African cricketer even celebrated by targeting the wire after completing the catch.
Lomror scored 16 crucial runs from eight deliveries which included two fours and one six. This was his first match of the season. The cameo helped RCB post 170/6 at Brabourne stadium. On the other hand, Joseph leaked 42 runs from his four overs.
What the rule says
As per clause 20.1.3, “In a match where cameras are being used on or over the field of play (e.g. Spidercam), should a ball that has been hit by the batsman make contact, while still in play, with the camera, its apparatus or its cable, either umpire shall call and signal ‘dead ball’.”
Happened last season too
This is not the first time a dead ball has been called despite the fielder taking a catch off a legitimate delivery. In the previous season, Ambati Rayudu took a spectacular catch of Shubman Gill but he was given not out.
