Umpires,bad light deny India full points in Emerging tournament

The teams took three points each.

India were denied an odds-on victory at the Emerging Players tournament in Brisbane when umpires called off play due to bad light with the Indians requiring just four runs to win against South Africa with four wickets in hand. Umpires Nathan Johnstone and Damien Mealey brought the game to an end during the third mandatory over. The teams took three points each.

Requiring 282 for victory on the third and final day,India had gotten themselves into a comfortable position,thanks to Ajinkya Rahanes 122-ball 109 and Ambati Rayudus swashbuckling 45-ball 51. Rayudu was still at the crease when the skies turned a pale grey with dark clouds hovering ominously above the Allan Border Field at the start of Kyle Abbotts 12th over. After one ball,the umpires decided to call off play a decision that hasnt gone down too well with most of the members of the India team.

Apart from being upset about losing an opportunity to score full points in their opening encounter of the tournaments three-day leg,many also expressed ignorance about the new ICC regulations,which allow umpires complete control of calling a match off in case of bad weather.

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The umpire first told us that it will be the last over of the match,so we all hoped that we will win this game from here. But Abbot had bowled just one ball,when they decided to call it off,which was really surprising, said an Indian player.

Incidentally,in the other match played in Brisbane,New Zealand A were also denied a win in similar circumstances against home side Australian Sports Institute,as they stood 10 runs away from a two-wicket win.

India coach Bharat Arun though said there was no point arguing with the umpires decision as they were simply going by the rule-book. I know its devastating for the boys to be so close to a win and then settle for a draw. We fought well and we can take lots of positives from this game, Arun told The Indian Express from Brisbane.

The Indian players,however,werent convinced and believed the umpires could have called the game off before Abbott began his over,if they thought light was that bad. It was bad weather but it wasnt so bad that we couldnt have played out one over, another player added.

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Arun though said the matter had been closed and the team wanted to shift their focus to the next tie against New Zealand which begins in Townsville on Saturday. Shikhar Dhawan batted well in the first innings and Rahane came back strongly in the second innings. We have started our three-day campaign on a good note and we hope to continue in the same vein from here on, Arun added.

Brief Scores: South Africa 259 & 291/3 (Reaza Hendricks 125 not out,Stiaan van Zyl 128); India 269/8 decl & 278/6 (Ajinkya Rahane 109,Ambati Rayudu 51 not out,Ethan OReily 4/67)