While Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club edged Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club out by one-run in a thrilling game of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a no-ball drama hogged the limelight, putting the shed on what was termed as the most exciting game of the season.
The no-ball incident happened in the last ball of the innings as Sheikh Jamal needed five runs to seal the deal. Indeed they needed a six. However No. 11 batsman Khaled Ahmed managed a four but the ball was a full toss delivery, reports BSS.
As per the demand of Sheikh Jamal, that was a waist-high full toss that should be called a no-ball. Khaled who faced the delivery didn’t argue with the umpires but he tried to catch their attention in this regard. However it went in vain as the umpires declared Doleshwar win, sparking a protest from Jamal’s tent.
Since the match was not telecast live, there was no way of watching the replay of the delivery immediately. The umpires then saw a TV footage and ensured that it was not a ‘no-ball’ delivery.
“The delivery was not waist high as we watched in TV footage later after Sheikj Jamal protested about it verbally,” said umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul. “It’s a legal delivery.”
Farhad Reza was instrumental in Prime Doleshwa’s nerve-wrecking victory, contributing for the side with both batting and bowling. He firstly became the Bangladesh’ fastest half-centurion in List A cricket, hitting his 50 off just 18 balls. He was finally dismissed for 56 off 20 but his innings was catalyst in Doleshwar’s hefty 239-6 as the match was rescheduled to 26-over affair due to wet pitch.
Jamal fought neck-to-neck and needed just 11 runs to seal the deal in the last over, delivered by Farhad Reza. He bowled intelligently to concede just nine runs and claimed the wicket of well-set Tanbir Hyder to help the side win the game from the jaws of defeat.