Unavailable DRS leaves SL fuming

Technical malfunction prevented Sri Lanka from reviewing an lbw decision against Martin Guptill in the fourth over of the sixth ODI in Dunedin, causing significant displeasure among the fielding team.

Dhammika Prasad jagged a length ball into Guptill, who was batting on four, and hit him below the knee-roll, in front of off and middle stump. The ball had evaded Guptill's bat and appeared to be heading for the stumps, but umpire Derek Walker turned down the voracious appeal from Prasad and Sri Lanka.

The bowler motioned vigorously to his teammates that a review should be sought, but both captain Lahiru Thirimanne and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara appeared to be aware that DRS was unavailable from the end Prasad was bowling from, and did not request a review. Umpire Walker confirmed that DRS was not available, thanks apparently to a fault in the video equipment at that end.

Sri Lanka were visibly irked by the incident, however, with Mahela Jayawardene audibly complaining that the episode was "rubbish". Prasad was also seen in conversation with Walker, both during that over and immediately after it.

Guptill was eventually out for 28 in the 14th over, after Walker had once more turned down an appeal, this time for a catch to the wicketkeeper. That decision was overturned on evidence from Hotspot and Snicko, however. The DRS cameras and ball projection software were not needed.