Explaining Yesterday's Controversial decisions !!

Yesterday, there were double header games, in which during the second game of the day, Mumbai Indians faced off Kings XI Punjab at Dubai International Stadium. In this match, MI had won the toss and decided to bat first. With Quinton De Cock posting a fifty and a blistering finish from Pollard and Coulternile saw them getting to the total of 176/6. In reply, KL Rahul once again proved with the bat, scoring yet another half century, along with the contributions from Pooran and Hooda, expected them to be on the winning side. But still, due to Bumrah's strikes and also an extra ordinary pull back, this game ended in a tie. During Super Over, KXIP batted first scoring just 5 runs, with yet again Bumrah executing his yorkers perfectly. If Bumrah, why can't I ? says Shami and executes a miracle by providing yet another tie !. Again a super over is played and in this, MI batted first scoring 11 runs. In reply, KXIP finished the game with 3 balls to spare. 

During this game, there were two controversial decisions respectively on 19.3rd over during KXIP's 2nd Innings and during MI's batting at second super over at 5th ball . Both were not given as wide, which escapes close. This drew criticism over umpire's efficient skills, which occurs usually in each year's IPL. Here I am going to analyse with the actual laws of cricket and provide my report in this blog.

At 19.3 over of KXIP's chase, Hooda was at the strike. The delivery was bowled by Boult. The situation is 3 runs needed off 3 balls. During which, he bowled it just outside leg stump. Hooda moved a step towards off side. The ball missed the leg stump just few centimetres. Umpire didn't give it a WIDE and many started questioning this as a wrong decision. Even Hooda were bit frustrated. 

A wide line is kept at both outside off stump and outside leg stump, where when the ball misses the batsmen's leg stump and moving little outside leg, will be given wide whereas at off side, the ball should go along / over the line. Along with this basic law, as per Law 22 of Cricket, a wide is given when the delivery is not sufficiently within the reach of the batsman trying to hit it with the ball, unchanging his guard position. This means that the batsman without moving an inch across, during which the ball isn't near the reach of the bat will be given wide. 

In this case, Hooda moved a bit across towards the off stump, before the delivery is bowled, and which results in the ball getting released at the actual position of the batsman. Hence, the decision given here is Wide and as per laws this is correct !!

On the second situation, during the 2nd Super Over, Mumbai batted first. At this super over, during the 5th ball, Pollard from the crease, tried to reach the ball and initially umpire gave it as OUT and then during referral it is given as NOT OUT. Then, Pollard asked it for a wide and umpire refused to do so. But, in this situation, the on field umpire does an error. Pollard from his usual standing position, tried reaching out the ball. The ball also went over the line. But, umpire refused as due to early decision of OUT. Still, these errors are needed to be avoided, since a single run decides the phase of the game.