XtraTime Web Desk: Sri Lanka’s cricketer turned umpire Kumar Dharmasena caught the limelight for the wrong reason as his decision was overturned in the final game of ICC World Cup 2019. Chris Woakes delivery hit the pads of Martin Guptill. Dharmasena raised his finger but Guptill took a review and the replay showed the ball was missing the stumps.
The umpire made another wrong decision as Kane Williamson was .caught behind by England pacer Liam Plunkett but Dharmasena didn’t hear anything. England skipper Eoin Morgan went for the review and it was a clear edge. Not only Dharmasena but also his partner Marais Erasmus made mistake in a very crucial time. Ross taylor was given LBW by Erasmus but the replay shows it was clear that the ball was missing the stumps. New Zealand had no review remaining.
Twitterati were unimpressed with continues gaffes from Dharmasena and vented out their frustration on the umpire –
Very poor Umpiring once again by Kumar Dharmasena ? his two decisions has been overturned with plenty of game remaining.#CWC19Final #CWC19 #ENGvsNZ #PoorUmpiring
— Mujeeb Shaikh (@ImSMujeeb) July 14, 2019
Why on earth is Kumar Dharmasena officiating in the Cricket World Cup final after his abysmal performances throughout the tournament? A poor decision by ICC! #CWC19Final #CWC2019 #ItsComingHome
— Ahsan Khan (@ahsanaftabkhan) July 14, 2019
Why Kumar Dharmasena is selected as umpire for the world cup final like in semifinal he made umpiring error against England and now in final he already made two errors which seriously can cost any team a match… @cricbuzz @cricketworldcup #CricketWorldCup #ENGvsNZ #ENGvNZ
— ….73…. (@_______ali) July 14, 2019
Kumar Dharmasena while umpiring…#ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/PlHB56Z8Wn
— Dnyaneshwar_Dk7 (@DnyaneshwarGk7) July 14, 2019
Still better Umpire than Kumar Dharmasena!#CWC19 #CWC19Final #CWCFINAL #ENGVNZ pic.twitter.com/KQEv5BISNw
— Encrypted Layman! (@freddieefaizan) July 14, 2019
Kumar Dharmasena is an embarrassment and should never of been given the final especially after giving Roy out the other day #ENGvsNZ #2decisionswrongalready
— Mike Gee (@mike_gee38) July 14, 2019
ICC should seriously consider something to be done regarding Kumar Dharmasena.
— Dushyant (@dushyantdd9) July 14, 2019
He is a pathetic umpire and they got him to umpiring WC final. #ENGvsNZ
Dharmasena was under scanner during the previous match between England and Australia as well. He had adjudged Jason Roy out even when there was a big gap between hs bat and the ball.
For once, he seemed to be confident that there was no contact between bat and the ball and it looked like he changed his mind after looking at appeal from Australians. Roy was so frustrated with Dharmasena that he even had a mouthful for the umpire. Later, he was fined by ICC for showing dissent to umpire’s decision.
Meanwhile, England have made a comeback in the final as they have scalped two quick wickets in the form of Williamson and Nicholls. After 31 overs, Black Caps are three down at a score of 130.
The team will need to touch a score of 300 to put England under pressure or else, The Three Lions will have no difficulties in chasing down the target.
Neither New Zealand nor England have won the 50-over World Cup.