Former South African umpire Marais Erasmus has admitted to an error he and fellow umpire Kumar Dharmasena made during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, which ultimately benefited England. In an interview, Erasmus disclosed that they realized their mistake the day after the historic match at Lord’s.
England clinched their maiden 50-over World Cup title under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final. However, controversy arose during the last over of the match when a throw from the field hit Ben Stokes’ bat and deflected for a boundary.
Erasmus and Dharmasena awarded six runs to England (two runs plus four overthrows), a decision that sparked debate among fans who believed the Black Caps were treated unfairly. Although the match ended in a tie, England eventually secured victory in a dramatic super-over, with the earlier decision affecting the outcome.
Reflecting on the incident, Erasmus recounted a conversation with Dharmasena the morning after the match, where they both acknowledged their error. He explained that during the game, they had communicated to each other that it was six runs without realizing that the batsmen hadn’t crossed at the moment of the throw.
Former umpire Simon Taufel also weighed in on the controversy, labeling the decision as a “mistake” and highlighting the timing of the fielder’s throw as the crucial factor. Taufel clarified that according to the rules, England should have been awarded five runs instead of six, emphasizing the timing of when the fielder released the ball as the defining moment for determining an overthrow.
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