Dambulla, Aug 18 (IANS) In a dramatic turn of events, it has now been revealed that it was Sri Lankan batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan and not skipper Kumar Sangakkara who instigated off-spinner Suraj Randiv to bowl a no-ball that denied Virender Sehwag his 13th century in the third one-day international (ODI) of the ongoing triseries.
Media reports here Wednesday claimed that it was Sehwag’s Delhi Daredevils teammate Dilshan, fielding at cover point, who shouted in Sinhalese saying ‘oney nam, no-ball ekak danna puluwan’, which in English means ‘if you want, you can bowl a no-ball’.
The incident Monday took place in the 35th over when Sehwag, batting on 99 and India needing just one run for victory, struck Randiv for a huge six over long-off and raised his bat in celebration, only to realise a moment later that it was a big no-ball from the off-spinner and his runs would not be counted.
Sehwag remained on 99 and missed his 13th ODI hundred when Randiv, who had not bowled a no ball in a Test or ODI series this season, bowled one which was hit by the opener for a six.
The six was not counted because the no ball gave India the winning run.
Randiv’s action came under heavy criticism from Sehwag.
Randiv and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) apologised to Sewhag for denying him a hundred in Monday night’s ODI by deliberately bowling a no ball.
‘Randiv came to my room and apologised,’ Sehwag wrote on his Twitter page.
A concerned SLC has also asked for uncensored video footage from the broadcasters of the last over.
