Odumbe sparks umpiring row

Kenyan captain Maurice Odumbe took a swipe at one of the umpires at his side's nine-wicket defeat to South Africa in a one-dayer on Sunday, accusing him contravening the spirit of the game.

Odumbe, who refused to name the official, said: "There was one gentleman out there who was not very friendly towards us and I've put that in my report."

He told journalists: "If you ask an official to show you where you are overstepping and he turns round and says 'look for yourself -- the marks are there', I don't think that's in the spirit of the game."

Odumbe said there had been another argument after a bowler had asked the official to stand back from the stumps.

The match umpires were South Africans Dave Orchard and Wilf Diedricks. Odumbe appeared to point the finger at Orchard by saying that the umpire in question was not standing at the end from which he bowled.

Kenya made 229 for seven from their fifty overs before South Africa raced to the target with 8.5 overs to spare as all of the Kenyan bowlers struggled to contain the scoring.

Match referee Judge Ahmed Ebrahim of Zimbabwe would not comment but said his report, as well as those of the two captains, would be sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

There was no comment either from Orchard or Diedricks, who -- like Odumbe -- are limited in what they are allowed to discuss publicly by ICC regulations.

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor