SL-NZ: DRS makes headlines again

In the 6th ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand today in Dunedin, the Decision Review System (DRS) made headlines again.

New Zealand, who had opted to bat were 10/1 after 3.2 overs, and on the very next ball, pace bowler Dhammika Prasad had opener Martin Guptill trapped plumb in front through an incoming delivery. Umpire Derek Walker, thought otherwise and turned the appeal. To add the agony of the bowler, the Lankans were denied the usage of the Decision Review System (DRS), which has been in place throughout the series including this match, for no fault of theirs.

WHY WAS THE REVIEW DENIED?

The bowler, Dhammika Prasad was very confident about his appeal and was desperate to get the decision reviewed; but he had no clue that the DRS was unavailable from the end he was bowling, as one of the cameras were down. The incident left Prasad understandably disappointed and sparked an angry reaction from Mahela Jayawardene, one of the team’s senior players, who was overheard saying ‘this is crap‘.

Martin Guptill, was later dismissed for 28 runs in the 14th over. Coincidentally, the same umpire, Derek Walker had once again turned down the decision only to be overturned via the review. Luckily for the Lankans, for a review of a caught behind decision, the camera and ball projection software weren’t required; Hotspot and Snicko were adequate to confirm that the ball had taken the edge.

RESULT:

New Zealand won the match comfortably by 120 runs and lead the 7-match series 4-1. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor who scored 97 and 96 respectively, were instrumental in helping the kiwis reach a score of 315/8. The Lankan batting was miserable again, with Kumar Sangakkara waging a lone battle with 66 ball-81.