Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced another no-ball controversy, the second in the season, against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
In the penultimate delivery of the SRH innings, RCB skipper Virat Kohli and speedster Umesh Yadav were upset with umpire Nigel Llong, who felt the bowler’s back leg landed on the crease. The TV replays confirmed it was way behind the line.
Yadav conceded 28 runs in the last over. Kane Williamson remained unbeaten on 70 off 43 balls as SRH posted 175 at the loss of seven wickets in their stipulated over.
The bowler walked up to the umpire after the replays and had a chat with him but was told to continue the over, Kohli also walked down the pitch and was clearly not happy with the decision as he too had a chat with the umpire.
Earlier in the tournament, umpire S. Ravi had failed to pick MI pacer Lasith Malinga overstepping by a few centimetres. It was the last ball of the match and a correct decision could have changed the result.
“We are playing at the IPL level and not playing club cricket. The umpires should have had their eyes open. That is a ridiculous call in the last ball. If it is a game of margins, I don’t know what is happening. They should have been more sharp and careful out there,” Kohli had lashed out.
In the end, the gaffe didn’t matter as RCB won the clash against SRH by four wickets and finished their IPL 2019 campaign on a positive note.
