The New Zealand-Netherlands game saw a controversial stumping decision where the TV umpire reversed the on-field call, citing that the wicketkeeper had collected the ball in front of the stumps.

The 41st over of Netherlands run-chase against New Zealand saw a moment drama unfold as Sybrand Engelbrecht was recalled from the boundary line after TV umpire Joel Wilson reversed an on-field stumping decision.

Engelbrecht stepped out early against Rachin Ravindra in an attempt to force the ball through the off side. However, Ravindra was smart enough to catch him running down the track and fired in a quick, short ball well outside the wide line. Englebrecht missed the ball, with the bails whipped off with him a long way out of his ground.

The on-field umpires did not need to refer it to the TV umpire and Engelbrecht started making the long walk back. However, midway through his journey back to the pavilion, he was asked by the umpires to stop.

Replays showed that Tom Latham, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, was close to the line of the stumps when he collected the ball. Consequently, the decision was referred to the TV umpire, who upon seeing several replays adjudged that when Latham collected the ball, his gloves weren’t fully behind the stumps. “Take it back, it looks like he has collected the ball in front of the stumps,” he said during the review. “I’m checking, where are the gloves when he is collecting it? He’s not wholly behind the stumps, so I have a no-ball and the batsman will be not out.”

According to the Laws of Cricket, the wicketkeeper is required to stay behind the stumps till the time the ball comes into contact with the bat or the batter, or passes the stumps at the striker’s end, or the striker attempts a run. Failing to do so results in a no-ball, which is exactly what happened in this case.

However, the decision was touch-and-go and irked many watching, including the commentators. “Well, I’ve got to say, as a former wicketkeeper, that’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen,” he said. “That is just crazy. When the ball went into the gloves, they were clearly, clearly behind the stumps. They might have been initially in front, but when the ball went into the gloves, clearly behind the stumps. Look at the gloves there. Are you telling me it’s a no ball? Well, when I look in the paper tomorrow it will say it, but not for mine.”

Englebrecht was eventually dismissed four overs later for 29 off 34, when Devon Conway took a diving catch at the square leg boundary off a cracking pull shot off the bowling of Matt Henry.

Netherlands were bowled out for 223, losing the match by 99 runs, following their 81-run loss against Pakistan at the same venue a few days back.

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