New Zealand off spinner Eden Carson bowled 11 overs in her side’s comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s Championship today (June 30) in a clear counting error by the on-field umpires.

Carson had already taken two wickets in her spell, including that of opener Harshitha Samarawickrama, and had completed her set of ten at the end of the 45th over of the Sri Lanka’s chase with figures of 2-40. However, despite there being plenty of overs available from the rest of the attack, after the next over was completed she continued to bowl from that end. Her extra over brought five dot balls and a single, meaning her figures for the match read 2-41-1-11.

The match result had been all but decided before her final extra over, given that Sri Lanka needed 119 from the final four with one wicket remaining. However, the ICC’s Women’s ODI playing conditions specify that ‘no bowler shall bowl more than 10 overs in an innings’ under rule 13.9.1.

Sri Lanka were bowled out in the 49th over for 213, losing the match by 116 runs. The three-match series is now level following Sri Lanka’s nine wicket win in the first match, and set for a decider in Galle on Monday (July 3).

There had also reportedly been controversy earlier in the match. Sri Lanka were awarded five penalty runs during New Zealand’s innings due to batters running on the pitch. The umpire had already warned the players before Brook Halliday ran the centre of the pitch while taking a single off Sugandika Kumari. Five further penalty runs were also awarded later in the game, with Lea Tahuhu punished for running on the wicket this time around while she was bowling

However, while unconfirmed, five of these runs were apparently rescinded after the match. Had the penalty stood, New Zealand’s margin of victory would have been reduced to 111 runs, rather than the official result of 116.

The playing conditions specify the awarding of penalty runs in this scenario under rule 41.14.3 which states: “If there is any further instance of deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch by any batter in that innings, the umpire seeing the contravention, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurence.

“The bowler’s end umpire shall… Award five penalty runs to the fielding side.”

5 more penalty runs for Sri Lanka after Lea Tahuhu receives two warnings for landing in the danger area 🤦🏾‍♀️ https://t.co/MlOoYEFxmZ

— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) June 30, 2023

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