Unusual scenes as batsman Temba Bavuman walks when he wasn’t out

Temba Bavuman walked after believing he had edged behind — but replays showed that not only had he not hit it.

South Africa’s Temba Bavuma before his controversial dismissal against Sri Lanka

There were unusual scenes on the third day of South Africa’s Test against Sri Lanka at Centurion when Temba Bavuma walked after believing he had edged behind — but replays showed that not only had he not hit it, there was a significant gap between his bat and the ball going through to the wicketkeeper.

Usually controversy surrounding such dismissals centres on a batsman’s decision to stand their ground, not the fact that they have walked. South African No 6 Bavuma did not hesitate or wait for the umpire to raise his finger before putting his bat under his arm and trudging off.

With South Africa cruising at 4-399, having got themselves a first-innings lead, Bavuma, who was on 71, slashed at a wide delivery by Dasun Shanaka, which everyone on the field and in the commentary box believed he had got a thin edge.

Slow-motion replays indicated a clear gap between Bavuma’s bat and the ball and there was no sound spike on the snickometer as the ball passed the bat. Shaun Pollock, the former South African pace bowler, commentating for SuperSport, noticed that something looked odd.

“That looked like he’d almost missed it on the replays,” he said. “(There) was obviously a noise out there that convinced everyone involved. There must have been a noise, because if he hadn’t edged it or hadn’t heard the noise himself, he definitely would’ve sent it upstairs for a review. But there was no edge whatsoever. What has he done?”

The wicket provided little respite for Sri Lanka. South Africa amassed 621 before leaving the touring side on 2-65 at the close, still trailing by 160 runs, and in the midst of an injury crisis.

Dhananjaya De Silva retired hurt in the first innings and was then ruled out of the rest of the series with a grade two tear in his left thigh.

Sri Lanka were then left without their opening bowler Kasun Rajitha – who suffered a groin injury after bowling 13 balls at the start of South Africa’s first innings – and when the pace bowler Lahiru Kumara and the debutant spinner Wanindu Hasaranga were both forced from the field with injuries, the team had to have four substitute fielders.

The Times