Watch: Leicestershire's Tom Scriven was given not out despite getting caught off a bouncer during their One Day Cup 2024 semi-final against Somerset yesterday (August 18).
Somerset piled on 334 runs in the first innings courtesy of Lewis Goldsworthy's unbeaten 86-ball 115. In response, Leicestershire seemed nearly out of the game at 106-4 before a 131-run fifth-wicket partnership brought them back. Peter Handscomb made 111 off 86 balls and took them close, but they eventually fell short by 23 runs.
During the Leicestershire innings, Scriven came out to bat at No.9 in the 43rd over. He started well, getting to 15 off 10 balls by the end of the 46th over, at which point Leicestershire needed 58 runs. Ben Green came on to bowl the 47th over, and after four runs off the first five balls, he had Scriven caught at short third, looking to advance and slash a head high bouncer over the off side.
However, the on-field umpire immediately raised his hand to signal a no-ball, applying law 41.3.3(a) of the One Day Cup playing conditions: "If a short pitched delivery passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, and in the umpire’s opinion so prevents him from being able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke, it shall be called No ball in accordance with Law 21.10."
This is similar to MCC’s Law 21.10: "The umpire shall call and signal No ball for any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease."
The decision, despite being in accordance to the Laws and the playing conditions, drew the ire of fans, who felt that deeming it a no ball when the batter was able to comfortably reach and hit the ball was unfair. Former England fast bowler Steven Finn called it a "terrible terrible awful rule".
Scriven hit a six very next ball, and finished unbeaten on 29 off 21, but wasn't able to take Leicestershire over the line.
Watch Scriven being reprived after bouncer is ruled too high:
Did you know this rule?
— Metro Bank One Day Cup (@onedaycup) August 18, 2024
Tom Scriven is caught off the bowling of Ben Green, but the delivery is ruled a no-ball because it was above head height. pic.twitter.com/9IiBC08F16
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