Angry Ireland captain William Porterfield slammed a controversial umpiring decision that he said cost his side the match against the West Indies on Friday. Batsman Gary Wilson was adjudged leg before wicket by on-field umpire Asoka de Silva when he was cruising at 61 and the decision was referred to TV umpire Bruce Oxenford.
TV replays seemed to show the batsman had offered a shot but de Silva's decision was apparently based on the view that Wilson had not done so. The incident led to a verbal exchange with the veteran Sri Lankan umpire but de Silva stuck to his guns even after Wilson had asked for a second review.
Porterfield said the decision cost his side the game at a time when, at 199-5, they were well-placed to chase a target of 276. "The decision was crucial and cost us the game," said Porterfield after Ireland were handed a 44-run defeat. "You can make mistakes on the field. But when you have the technology and advantage of TV replays, that is supposed to eradicate mistakes.
"In my opinion this time it didn't. The replays showed Wilson was trying to play a shot and that could be seen on the big screen (on the ground) as well. "The game was at a crucial stage. If that decision was not made, we could have opted for the powerplays, but that wicket forced us to delay it."
He added: "The ball was also hitting him outside the line. I wonder what prompted the on-field umpire and the third umpire to give that out. "I am not against the UDRS (review system) but when you are at the receiving end of such decisions it does hurt." The defeat left Ireland with the huge task of beating South Africa and the Netherlands in their last two league games if they are to have any chance of making to the last eight. West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, who was seen putting his arms around an exasperated Wilson as he made his point to the umpire, said the batsman should have just accepted the decision and moved on.
Comments
Comments are closed.