Murali Kartik jeered by county fans for "Mankading"

Indian spinner Murali Kartik was at the centre of an unsavoury "Mankading" episode as he ran out an opposition batsman who backed up too far down the pitch during an English county championship match here.

Kartik was bowling for Surrey in their game against Somerset yesterday when he ran out 20-year-old batsman Alex Barrow by suddenly stopping in his run-up and removing the bails with the batsman out of his ground.

It has traditionally been seen as unacceptable to dismiss a batsman in this way, known in cricket as "Mankading" named after former Indian batting great Vinoo Mankad's run out in Sydney in 1947 unless he has been warned previously.

Kartik said he had already warned Barrow two balls earlier.

"Everyone get a life please...if a batsman is out on a stroll in spite of being warned, does that count as being in the spirit of the game?" Kartik tweeted.

Umpire Peter Hartley offered Surrey captain Gareth Batty the option to withdraw the appeal but the latter refused.

By the letter of the law Barrow was out, but via a method of dismissal long considered against the spirit of the game and rarely witnessed on the county scene.

As Barrow walked off, having made 12 in a Somerset total that then read 191 for six, boos rang out across the County Ground. Angry spectators continued to jeer Kartik.

There were angry scenes below the Surrey dressing room balcony at tea, with supporters of both sides directing abuse at Batty and Kartik, who joined Surrey when Somerset opted not to offer him a new contract at the end of last season.

Surrey's team director, Chris Adams, later conceded that the dismissal "challenged the spirit of cricket" but backed Batty over a decision made "in the heat of battle during a very difficult season".

... contd.

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