Call it poor sportsmanship, controversy or whatever, but Sri Lanka spinner Suraj Randiv deliberately bowling a no-ball and depriving Virender Sehwag of a well-deserved century in the third ODI of the tri-series was certainly in contravention of the spirit of the game.
India won by six wickets, cruising to 171 for four from 34.3 overs, in reply to Sri Lanka's 170 in 46.1 overs. But Sehwag was left stranded on 99.
It was the 35th over. India needed one run for victory and Sehwag needed one run to complete his century. But Randiv, coming around the wicket, sent down what could be the biggest no-ball in recent times, his backfoot close to over-stepping. Sehwag sent that delivery - the third of the over - for a six and celebrated, not knowing the winning run had come off a no-ball. India won, but the dashing opener was left stranded on 99, the runs coming off a no-ball not counting in the batsman's score.
"If there is a player on 99, it does not mean that you bowl a no-ball and give away four byes. That has no place in good cricket," a disappointed Sehwag said at the post-match press conference.
"Why should I look at the video, it was done deliberately. Randiv has not bowled no-balls in one-dayers also. When I was in 99 why was a no-ball bowled? It was not a small margin no-ball but one foot long. I don't know whether the captain was consulted or someone else was consulted," he said.
Sehwag went on to add that the Lankans acted similarly with Sachin Tendulkar.
Last December, in Cuttack, with Tendulkar at the non-striker's end on 96, Lasith Malinga bowled a wide down the leg side as India won by seven wickets.
Can Randiv, and Sri Lanka, be condoned for denying Sehwag his hundred? Should the guardians of the game have a rethink and tweak the laws on a no-ball? Should the batsman, like in Sehwag's case, be credited with the runs for scoring off the delivery?
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