Follow UsIn a bizarre new for the Netherlands, they began their run chase against Nepal, on June 10 (Tuesday), at 10/0, even before a ball was bowled. While instances of a team starting with a five-run advantage have been seen before, it is probably the first time a team has begun with a significant head start.
The incident occurred during Nepal’s innings, in the 33rd over, when batter Basir Ahmad was warned against running on the danger strip of the surface, leaving Nepal with a ten-run penalty. Nepal were found guilty of violating MCC’s Law 41.14, which governs ‘batter damaging the pitch’.
“It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause,” MCC’s 41.14.1 law stated.
In addition to that, MCC Law’s 41.14.3 also states that the umpires can award a ‘five-run’ penalty to the fielding side.
“If there is any further instance of deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch by any batter in that innings, the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence,” the law states.
“The bowler's end umpire shall disallow all runs to the batting side return any not out batter to his/her original end signal. No ball or Wide to the scorers if applicable. Award 5 Penalty runs to the fielding side,” it adds.
As a result of this, the Netherlands began with a ten-run head start, possibly for a second warning for Nepal during their batting efforts, chasing a paltry 236/9 in Forthill, Dundee.