Kiwis unhappy over Dilshan's disputed catch

Elmo Rodrigopulle from New Zealand

CRICKET: The Sri Lankans were livid when Brendon McCallum the New Zealand wicket keeper unsportingly ran out Muttiah Muralitharan, who after completing the run that gave his partner Kumar Sangakkara his century was walking out to congratulat his partner in the Second Test at this same venue.

The Blackcaps were fuming when Tillakaratne Dilshan fielding in the gully took an apparently bump catch off Ross Taylor, appealed and was given out by the leg umpire Tony Hill who was convinced that the catch was clean and did not seek the help of the third umpire.

But subsequent different angles on the TV showed that the catch was not clean. But captain Mahela Jayawardena cleared himself and team mate Dilshan of any wrong doing over the catch that was not clean. Jayawardena also denied that the ill feeling from the Muralitharan run out had influenced lack of action from him.

Jayawardena fielding at slip said he never saw the ball hit the ground and that Dilshan was confident he took the catch clean until he saw the slow-motion replays.

However once Dilshan realised his mistake he went up to New Zealand coach John Bracewell and tendered his apologies."From slip it was difficult for me to judge. The umpires should have gone upstairs, but they thought they had a clear view.

"When we came in and saw different angles, it was obviously not a catch, but we were not in a position at the time to say that. We are honest and we went for the catch and then the technology is there", said Jayawardena.

However these incidents which had the knack of happening in Christchurch is sure to leave a bad taste in the mouth and the remaining two one-day games in Auckland and Hamilton will not be contested in the best of spirits.

Jade Stadium, Christchurch, Thursday