CHRISTCHURCH - Cricket's domestic showpiece Shell Cup final had an element of farce yesterday when both Central Districts batsmen Mathew Sinclair and Craig Spearman were in the pavilion after a run-out.
Central scored 178-2 in 38 overs to win by 8 wickets after Canterbury scored 176-8.
While clarification was being sought from third umpire Tony Hill when both finished at one end, Sinclair departed on his own volition but then umpire Brent Bowden was told by Hill the striker was out.
Craig Spearman was the original striker so he was then sent packing - but Hill had meant Sinclair.
The upshot was that both were off the field at one stage, with first Sinclair then Spearman having to be recalled after the mistake.
"It was a little bit of a circus out there," said Central skipper Jacob Oram.
"It was pretty annoying because Mathew came in and was fully unpadded and then Craig comes into the dressing room and says sorry but he was told he was out and Mathew had to go back out there.
"Mathew gets padded up again and then meets Billy [Bowden] at the tunnel who says it was really him who was out and Spears should come back out again.
"Spears by this time had also taken the pads off."
Bowden had been centrestage earlier in the finals weekend but not for his flamboyant signalling.
He twice counted the balls in an over incorrectly, having a seven-ball over in the second final on Saturday and a five-ball over yesterday. He also miscounted several other times only to be saved by the third umpire.
The high-profile Bowden also featured in several incidents regarding caught-behind decisions. On Saturday, Oram was pouched by Canterbury wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins who felt it was a regulation edge and dismissal.
Bowden did not agree and referred the decision to Hill for assistance after seeing a deflection but hearing nothing.
The Auckland umpire later sent a mixed message with the dismissal of Hopkins in the Canterbury innings, at first shaking his head to an appeal, then raising a bent finger. The replay, which was not called for, showed no deviation or noise and Hopkins was clearly aggrieved at being given out.
- NZPA
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