Historic dismissal in international cricket

NEW DELHI (AP):

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews became the first batter to be timed out in international cricket during the Cricket World Cup game against Bangladesh on Monday.

Mathews wasn’t ready to face his first ball within the stipulated two minutes, as the strap of his helmet appeared to be broken and he called for a replacement helmet.

A substitute fielder eventually ran out with a new helmet, but by then it had taken more than three minutes since the previous dismissal and onfield umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth told Mathews he was out. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and his teammates had appealed for him to be timed out.

ICC rules state that a batter has “to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the (previous) dismissal or retirement”.

Mathews, who first didn’t believe he was ruled out, was seen arguing with both on-field umpires while pointing towards the broken strap of his helmet.

Mathews also had a word with Shakib, who didn’t withdraw his appeal, before he walked back and kicked his helmet and threw his bat close to the boundary skirting in anger.

“We have certain protocols and the TV umpire monitors the two minutes,” fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock told broadcasters during the innings break. “He will then relay the message through to the on-field umpires and in the instance this afternoon, the batter wasn’t ready to receive the ball within those two minutes, even before the strap [broke].”

Holdstock said that a batter has to make sure that all his equipment is in place so that he can face his first ball within two minutes.

“So technically, you should be there within maybe 15 seconds to make sure all those things are in place before you actually receive the ball,” Holdstock said.

Sri Lanka, who were put into bat, were bowled out for 279 in the final over as Charith Asalanka anchored the innings with a knock of 108.

Bangladesh eventually won by the match by three wickets with 53 balls remaining.

Final scores: Sri Lanka 279 (Charith Asalanka 108, Pathum Nissanka 41, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3-80, Shoriful Islam 2-51, Shakib Al Hasan 2-57); Bangladesh 282 for seven (Najmul Shanto 90, Shakib 82, Dilshan Madushanka 3-69, Angelo Mathews 2-35).