In a nail-biting second ODI between South Africa and Pakistan, some wondered if the tourists should have been awarded five penalty runs after the ball hit Temba Bavuma’s hat in the process of the South Africa captain dropping a catch.
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The incident occured in the 47th over, with Fakhar Zaman in the midst of playing one of the all-time great ODI innings. It appeared as if his incredible knock would come to an end when he offered a chance to Bavuma in the ring, only for the ball to pop out and land on a floppy pink hat which the South African had also lost possession of during his attempted catch.
The on-air commentators suggested Pakistan should have been awarded five penalty runs, with the away side’s reaction in the dug-out when they saw the replay suggesting they felt similarly.
The ball hit Temba Bavuma's hat when he dropped the catch. Clearly these are 5 penalty runs. On field umpires missed it. There should be provision to change the score
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 4, 2021
However, the Laws of Cricket are clear that Bavuma’s punishment for the drop should merely have been Zaman staying at the crease, rather than an extra five runs conceded. While clause 28.2.1 of the Laws states that a fielder “will be deemed to have fielded the ball illegally if, while the ball is in play he/she wilfully uses anything other than part of his/her person to field the ball,” “wilfully” is a key word. Clause 28.2.2 clarifies that “It is not illegal fielding if the ball in play makes contact with a piece of clothing, equipment or any other object which has accidentally fallen from the fielder’s person.
Still, even if there was no real controversy on that occasion, the drama for the day was far from done.
