Some South African fans are saying that the catch that changed the match should have been a six. According to them, the boundary cushion was moved outward to create a larger playing field, which allowed Suryakumar Yadav to take a brilliant catch, possibly the best ever in the history of the game in a final match.
At one point, South Africa needed 27 runs off 28 balls, but then tragically found themselves in a position where 16 runs were needed off the final over to win the prestigious tournament. They had never won an ICC tournament before, so it was a big moment for South Africa.
Hardik Pandya had the ball in hand to defend 16 runs against a bona fide finisher like David Miller. The first ball wasn’t a good one, a loose full toss outside the off stump which Miller hit straight down the ground. It looked like it would sail over the boundary, but Suryakumar Yadav took a breathtaking catch in the most clutch moment of the game.
Had that ball gone for six, Miller might have finished the game within the next few balls. However, a decision went to the third umpire, and Miller waited on the field, hoping for a favorable outcome. The third umpire checked the catch from all angles and gave it out, which must have been a hard pill to swallow for Miller.
The faces in the South African dugout, which had been quite happy a few overs earlier, now hung down as the precious opportunity was lost by the rainbow nation. After the match finished, some South African fans started sharing a screenshot of Surya’s catch, suggesting that the boundary cushion was moved outward.
However, there is no evidence of this being done in the last over. It could have been that way since the beginning of the game. To back their claim, South African fans posted a definite rule of the MCC, which suggests that even if the boundary cushion has moved and the fielder touches the area while taking a catch, the batting team should be rewarded with a boundary.
This is all bygone now. If South Africa had been more sensible, they could have finished the match without any trouble. They kept making mistakes in the last five overs, and a lack of confidence was a big reason behind their unforeseen fall in the final.
