Dewald Brevis got an early reprieve during his match-winning cameo in the SA20 Qualifier 1 between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals after a contentious no-ball call went in his favour.
The incident happened in the 16th over of MICT’s innings. The batting side were on 133-4 with a ball left in the over when Brevis holed out to Dayyan Galiem in the deep. The batter pulled a full toss to deep backward square and the umpire deemed it to be a waist-high no-ball, ruling him as not out.
SA20: Qualifier 1 (PR v MICT)
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What is the waist-high no-ball law?
Clause 40.7.1 of SA20 Playing Conditions which deals with "Bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries" says, "Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is to be deemed to be unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. If the bowler bowls such a delivery the umpire shall immediately call and signal No ball.
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Was the Brevis no-ball call correct?
While the point of contact with the ball was above the waist height, Brevis’ front foot was outside the crease when he made contact and he was not standing upright while playing the shot, two key technicalilites mentioned in the law. Considering the two factors, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that the ball would have passed Brevis below waist height if he was standing in an upright position at the popping crease.
Paarl Royals captain David Miller was seen contesting the decision to the umpire but the original call stood.
Brevis added insult to injury by parking the very next ball, a free hit for a six and Galiem was taken out of the attack in his next over after bowling another waist-high no-ball. That ball also went to the boundary for a four. Mitchell Owen was summoned to finish the over, which ultimately cost 27 runs.
Brevis cashed in on the reprieve, finishing unbeaten on 44 off 30 balls as MICT scored 60 off the last four overs, reaching 199-4. In reply, Paarl were bowled out for 160 with two balls left in their innings. The victory, their fifth in a row, took MICT to the final.
Addressing the press after the match, Galiem revealed that the Royals didn’t think the ball was high enough to be called a no-ball.
"That is obviously tight but that's the match officials, they have to make the decisions. It could have gone either way," Galiem said.
"We did feel like he was in a bent position and the shot was out in front of him as well, so potentially if that ball carried on going and it was in line with his body it perhaps could have been a touch lower. It was a touch and go and on another day that's given and everything changes from there, but again I think we could have still been better in certain situations of the game."
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