Kumar Dharmasena admits to "error of judgement" in World Cup overthrow controversy

Video replays suggested that five runs rather than six should have been awarded after the ball deflected off Ben Stokes' bat to the boundary

Kumar Dharmasena has admitted that the decision to award England six runs rather than five following the overthrow incident in last Sunday’s World Cup final was an “error of judgement”.

The Sri Lankan official, who was standing in the Lord’s showpiece alongside Marais Erasmus, handed Eoin Morgan’s side the additional run after Ben Stokes’ dive into his crease inadvertently deflected Martin Guptill’s throw to the boundary for four.

According to Law 19.8, relating to “overthrow or wilful act of fielder”, the batsman must have crossed prior to Guptill’s throw being released for two initial runs to be added to the four overthrows.

Video replays showed that Stokes and his batting partner at the time, Adil Rashid, had not crossed at the moment the New Zealand fielder let go of the ball.

That would mean both that England should only have been awarded five runs by Erasmus and Dharmasena, and that Ben Stokes would not have been on strike for the next delivery.

“I agree that there was an error of judgement when I see it on TV replays now,” Dharmasena told Sri Lankan newspaper Sunday Times.

“But we did not have the luxury of TV replays at the ground and I do not regret the decision I made.

“So, I did consult the leg umpire through the communication system which is heard by all other umpires and the match referee.

“While they cannot check TV replays, they all confirmed that the batsmen have completed the second run. This is when I made my decision.”

Dharmasena added that, because no dismissal had been involved, there was no provision to refer the decision to the third umpire.

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