New Zealand take comfort from beating a dangerous side such as Sri Lanka in difficult pitch conditions during their Group A match. PHOTO: AFP
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the two players had pleaded guilty to a level one breach of that part of the Code of Conduct which relates to ‘excessive appealing during an international match’.
“Dilshan and Jayawardene were charged for excessive and prolonged appealing in a keenly-contested match that New Zealand won by one wicket,” said the ICC in a statement.
Sri Lanka, defending a small total of 138, grabbed regular wickets to reduce the Black Caps to 122 for eight before the tail rallied to win the match.
ICC match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe said both players had apologised for their actions.
“Irrespective of the outcome of an umpire’s decision, players are not entitled to prolonged appeals as these can be construed as pressuring the umpires,” said Pycroft in the ICC statement.
“Both players accepted their mistake and apologised for their actions.”
The charges against Jayawardene and Dilshan were laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker, and television umpire Ian Gould.
Cardiff pitch incredibly difficult: McCullum
On the other hand, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum commended his side’s narrow one-wicket win against Sri Lanka, according to ESPNcricinfo.
“I think today’s wicket was an incredibly difficult wicket to bat on,” said Brendon. “You sort of expect to chase 138 every day of the week, and then you see the ball sort of turning, stopping, keeping low and swinging, and you know that you’ve got [Lasith] Malinga to deal with and you know that 130-odd is a lot bigger total than what it suggests.
This victory against Sri Lanka has broken a run of 10 out of 11 defeats against them in 50-over cricket.
“These points were incredibly valuable especially against a team as dangerous as Sri Lanka in these conditions. They obviously knew the pitch was going to dry out a touch as well and the new ball was going to come into effect.”
New Zealand now play their next Group A match against Australia tomorrow, while Sri Lanka are set to face England on Thursday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2013.
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