WI vs SA: AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn react to a ‘shocker’ umpiring call from the game

The deciding T20I of WI vs SA series witnessed a ‘howler’ umpiring call that left many a fan shell-shocked. In the fifth game of the series, West Indies left-arm-quick Obed McCoy got away with a delivery that should have clearly been deemed a wide. The incident prompted South African legends Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers to convey their shocked reactions on social media. 

Obed McCoy bowls a clear wide; umpires not convinced 

It happened in the last ball of the penultimate over of the South African batting innings. McCoy bowled a searing, short-pitched ball to Wiaan Mulder, the Proteas’ batsman on strike. The pitched delivery bounced to a height quite a bit above Mulder’s helmet while drifting way down towards the leg-side. 

The on-field pair of South African batters gazed expectantly at the umpires to be awarded the extra run. But as it turned out, neither Joel Wilson nor Gregory Brathwaite appeared convinced. McCoy, consequently, managed to finish off his spell without conceding an extra run that he should have conceded.

The bizarre umpiring call left quite a few fans on social media unimpressed. Among them were veteran South Africa pacer Dale Steyn and former captain AB de Villiers. The latter commented ‘Shocker’ to a tweet the former made, asking ‘How on earth is that not a wide?’. 

South Africa win WI vs SA series by 3-2

South Africa were 160/4 at the time of this controversial wide-call. They went on to finish at 168. Thankfully, the erroneous umpiring call didn’t affect their overall prospects in the match; as some spirited bowling spells from Lungi Ngidi (4-0-32-3) and Kagiso Rabada (4-0-24-2) managed to seal the game and, in turn, the series for the Saffers.

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West Indies fell well short of the total, culminating their innings at 143/9. Aiden Markram won man of the match for his crucial knock of 70 (48). Meanwhile, Tabraiz Shamsi, picking up 7-wickets in the series at a miserly average of 11.43, claimed the Player of the Series accolade. The 3-2 series win marks the South African team’s first successful white-ball series under new captain Temba Bavuma.