Watch: Outside the line? Hassan Ali pins Ollie Pope for marginal lbw decision in County Championship

Watch: Hassan Ali picked up a wicket in his first over in the 2023 County Championship today (April 28), controversially pinning Ollie Pope lbw as he advanced down the track.

Playing for Warwickshire in the third round of the competition at Edgbaston, Hassan was straight into the action. The hosts had been bowled out for 150 early on day two, having added seven runs to their overnight score.

Looking for early wickets, Chris Rushworth dismissed Dom Sibley early to leave Surrey 12-1 and bring Pope to the crease at three. England’s Test No.3 came into the game off the back of a superb century at The Oval in Surrey’s previous round. He was straight on the attack again early in his innings at Edgbaston.

With Pope having struck two fours, Hassan was brought on to stem the flow of runs. Bowling from over the wicket, he sent down a length ball to Pope who advanced down the pitch to meet it. However, he completely missed with his attempted flick to the leg-side and was struck on the pad. The bowler, keeper and slip-fielders all went up in appeal.

To add some confusion into the mix, one of the fielders threw the ball into the stumps, Pope scrambling back to make his ground. But as he turned back around to look at the umpire, he saw a raised finger giving him out lbw.

Given how far he was down the wicket and the ball looking marginal as to whether it had hit Pope’s pad in line with off stump, he looked less than impressed at the decision. Hassan celebrated with his trademark exuberance, punching the air before he was congratulated by his teammates.

Surrey somewhat recovered from the early wickets, however, reaching 190-6 before the end of play.