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In a dramatic ILT20 match, MI Emirates’ Nicholas Pooran ran out Gulf Giants’ Tom Curran, but teammate Tom Banton controversially called Curran back.
Snippets from the drama in ILT20 yesterday. (X/@ILT20Official)
A dramatic three-and-half minutes unfolded in the International League T20 (ILT20) tournament in a clash between MI Emirates and Gulf Giants on Saturday.
The Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran ran Giants’ Tom Curran out at a crucial stage of the second innings but the latter was controversially called back to the pitch by Pooran’s teammate, Tom Banton. A video of the incident has now gone viral on social media. You can watch it here:
It happened in the 18th over of the Giants’ chase of a 152-run target when they needed 18 runs off 13 balls to win. Mark Adair knocked the last ball to long off and took a single. Curran completed the run and started walking back to his partner before Pooran had even received the ball.
The ‘keeper took the bails off as soon as he did and appealed for a run-out. It was checked by the third umpire and the on-field decision was upheld because Pooran was within his rights to run Curran out as the ball was not yet ‘dead’.
The incident was similar to the infamous run-out of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey in the 2023 Ashes. That was checked and cleared, as well.
However, just like that Ashes incident, the team on the receiving end wasn’t happy. Curran walked off shaking his head after the third umpire’s decision came through but the Giants’ head coach Andy Flower was visibly upset and out of his chair.
Banton, who was near the Giants’ pavilion, asked Curran to return back, effectively suggesting that the Emirates had withdrawn their appeal. Curran obliged and though he was bowled by Dan Mousley soon after, the Giants went on to win the match by two wickets on the last ball. It was just their second win of the year.
The incident has once again ruffled the Spirit of Cricket debate in the fraternity. While Curran was legally out, the Emirates are being praised for doing the ‘right’ thing.
