Tom Curran received a reprieve while batting in the ILT20 on Saturday (January 25), as opposition captain Nicholas Pooran called him back after a run out in order to adhere to the "Spirit of Cricket".
Curran was batting for Gulf Giants against Pooran's MI Emirates in the 19th match of this season, with a target of 152 after Tom Banton top-scored for MIE in the first innings with 56.
With 18 runs needed from 13 balls, Mark Adair hit a full delivery from Alzarri Joseph to long-off. The batters ran through for a single, with Curran running to the striker's end.
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He arrived in the crease comfortably, before immediately tapping his bat on the ground twice and leaving his ground as the throw from the deep came in to wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran. Pooran whipped off the bails and appealed for Curran to be run out, but the batter appeared bemused at the appeal – possibly because it was the last ball of the over, and he was heading mid-pitch to chat with his partner. However, there had been no call of "over" from either umpire.
Discussions took place between the on-field officials before the appeal was referred to the third umpire, who ruled Curran out. As he began to leave the field though, Gulf Giants head coach Andy Flower asked Curran to wait, and appeared to be protesting the decision on the boundary edge.
After a few seconds of Flower's dissent, the appeal was presumably retracted by Pooran as Curran was allowed to return to the crease and continue batting. He was eventually dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings, before Zuhaib Zubair completed the chase and took the Giants to victory.
