Drama and confusion as India overhaul SA’s mammoth total

Umpire MR Singh referred the matter to the third umpire to ascertain whether the ball had crossed the fence or not. What followed was total confusion. The umpire signalled four, the players shook hands and the ground was ready for the presentation ceremony.

But soon a Kerala Cricket Association official came out and said the match was not yet over! It was truly unbelievable.

Match referee Raman Subba Row — the key to the players making into the ground to finish the seemingly unfinished match — was on the ground to explain what happened. “It was sad that there was so much confusion. It was not a four. The umpire talked to us and the third umpire LP Verma could not contact the umpire on the field through the walkie-talkie because of the big noise in the stadium.

“In the confusion we tried to reach him with the light (third eye), though this is not a practice followed. The umpire on the field got it wrong and signalled four whereas the green light was actually meant to convey the message that the fielder had stopped the ball before it could cross the fence.

“As we walked down into the ground, Kapil Dev came to us and told me that India would be happy to continue the match.”

When India came out again, Robin Singh and Kumble ran a sharp single to win the game with two balls to spare.