Smith, Stoinis calls put spotlight on TV umpire in Australia-South Africa World Cup game

Marcus Stoinis was given out caught behind in Australia's run chase against South Africa in Lucknow, despite his bottom hand appearing to be off the bat when the ball made contact with his glove.

Stoinis fended at a delivery from Kagiso Rabada in the 18th over of Australia's innings, with Quinton de Kock taking a tumbling catch down the leg side. It was given not out by Joel Wilson on field but South Africa opted to review and UltraEdge confirmed that the ball had brushed Stoinis' bottom hand on its way through.

However, although Stoinis appeared to have let go of the bat handle, third umpire Richard Kettleborough indicated that he felt the right glove was making contact with the left, which in turn was still holding on to the bat. "The hand is connected to his top hand, therefore in contact with the bat, and we've got a clear spike," Kettleborough said.

After checking that the catch had carried cleanly through to de Kock, Stoinis was given out for 5 on the DRS - despite seemingly protesting to the standing umpires that his hand was off the bat.

It was the second dismissal to cause dismay among the Australian contingent, after Steven Smith was also given out on review. Smith was struck on the pads after moving across his stumps in Rabada's first over, with ball-tracking technology predicting the delivery would have gone on to hit the top of leg stump.

Smith, however, was not convinced and walked off with a look of bemusement while studying the replays on the big screen. The dismissal left Australia 50 for 3 in their chase of 312 to win; when Stoinis departed, they had slid to 70 for 6.

Marnus Labuschagne, who was at the non-striker's end for both dismissals, said that in Stoinis' case it "looked like there was clear daylight between the two gloves", although he conceded that the decision was unlikely to have affected the result, as Australia slipped to a 134-run defeat that leaves them winless after two games.

"The umpires really didn't know what was going on," he said. "They saw what we saw. It looked like his hand was off the bat - it hit the glove. Because they didn't go to the side on angle - Marcus and I were asking have they checked. They just saw the spike front on.

"It looked like there was clear daylight between the two gloves and the handle. But I have been into the third umpire room and the screen is big and the picture is clearer than what we have on the screen."

He added: "Everyone saw the same thing out there. There was some talk that maybe it hit the handle of the bat. It was confusing and I am sure we will get clarity or go and seek for clarity. It's a World Cup and we don't want small decisions that can be avoided to change the outcomes of games. Obviously in the situation we were in its hard to say it would have changed the outcome but obviously for the future we want to get I right."

On the Smith lbw, Labuschagne said he thought it was missing leg stump but was not in a position to doubt the technology.

"From front on it looked like it was going down leg. Steve was like 'What do you think?' and I said 'No, I don't think it's close'. He usually plays that shot where he leaves his leg out. He doesn't cross over like most normal batters. I haven't seen the final footage but it looks like it must have hit him on leg and almost straightened on to the stumps. It wasn't what it felt like out there but I can't argue with technology. Not right now."

Andrew McDonald, Australia's head coach, played down any sense of controversy, despite suggesting that had both Smith and Stoinis been able to bat on it "would've made the match much closer".

"There was some doubt around it [Stoinis' dismissal] but I suppose you've got to accept the umpires' decision in these moments. I'm sure there will be some explanation coming from the ICC around the dismissal."

On Smith, he said: "It's hard to contest technology isn't it? That's what it's there for. But if you slowed it down and looked visually at it, there was the potential that it went down leg side but technology had it hitting the stumps and that's all I'm going to say.

"Any time you lose Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis, I suppose there was a chance, they're quality players and given the opportunity, they would've made the match much closer."

Rabada, meanwhile, admitted both decisions were marginal, saying he was "hoping for umpire's call" on the Smith appeal. "Technology favoured us today. I thought it was close, it was not as obvious as missing."