Umpire calls dead ball after Azmatullah Omarzai's towel falls during delivery to Brian Bennett
Umpire rules dead ball after Omarzai's towel falls, reprieving Bennett before Zimbabwe collapse to 136 and lose by 158 runs.
Umpire Ahsan Raza called a dead ball in the eighth over of Zimbabwe's innings in the ODI tri-series match against Afghanistan after bowler Azmatullah Omarzai's towel fell during his run-up, distracting batter Brian Bennett. Bennett was clean bowled but pointed out the distraction to the umpire, who consulted with leg umpire Farooq Khan before ruling the delivery dead under ICC playing conditions clause 20.4.2.6, which covers distractions from noise or movement. Bennett was eventually dismissed for 31 in the 13th over as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 136 while chasing 295, losing by 158 runs. Commentators offered differing views on whether Bennett should have withdrawn before playing the shot, but the decision stood. The result left Zimbabwe second in the points table with one match remaining in the tri-series hosted in the UAE.
CricHubb Take
The dead-ball ruling highlights how equipment malfunctions can influence match outcomes under current ICC laws, and Afghanistan's win keeps their tri-series hopes alive heading into the final fixture.