During a five-over T20 contest in Sano, India secured a narrow two-run win over Japan, but a late decision in the final over sparked significant debate. Defending 33 runs, Axar Patel bowled to Alexander Shirai-Patmore, who attempted a reverse sweep to a delivery down the leg side that was initially called wide. Axar and Sanju Samson questioned the decision before captain Shreyas Iyer spoke to square-leg umpire Chris Brown. Brown and fellow umpire Chris Thurgate discussed the call, reversed it, and counted the delivery as a dot ball. Speaking to the Indian Express, an ICC umpire revealed that the right call was made in the end because once a batsman attempts a reverse sweep or switch-hit, both sides are treated as the off side. Therefore, the 17-inch mark is accounted for, and unless the ball goes past that mark, it remains a legal delivery. MCC Law 2.12 allows an umpire to change a decision as long as it is done promptly, meaning the original wide signal did not make the decision final. Because Shirai-Patmore had attempted the reverse sweep and the delivery had not passed the relevant 17-inch mark, the final decision to reverse the wide was correct. Japan ultimately needed four runs from the final ball but managed only a leg bye, allowing India to win by two runs.
INDIA VS JAPAN: WAS AXAR PATEL’S DELIVERY REALLY A WIDE? ICC UMPIRE EXPLAINS
