Bangladesh A conceded five penalty runs during Saturday's (May 10) third unofficial ODI against New Zealand A in Sylhet, after a bizarre field placement saw their wicketkeeper stationed at first slip, leaving the helmet behind the stumps.
The incident occurred during the fifth over of New Zealand’s chase of 227. With the tourists at 35-0, opener Rhys Mariu left a delivery from Ebadot Hossain that was well outside off stump, letting it go.
Bangladesh A concede five penalty runs after ball hits keeper's helmet
What followed was peculiar: Bangladesh had set an unconventional field, with wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan standing far outside the off stump – where first slip would typically be. As a result, the ball sailed past Nurul, who was out of position, and struck the helmet placed behind him in line with the stumps.
Under MCC’s Law 28.3, if the ball strikes a fielding-side helmet (including the wicketkeeper’s) placed on the ground, the ball is immediately declared dead. The batting side is awarded five penalty runs, in addition to any runs already completed by the batters. The umpires immediately applied the rule, signalling a dead ball, and awarded five penalty runs in New Zealand's favour.
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Mariu was eventually dismissed for a run-a-ball 33 after putting on a 77-run opening partnership with Dale Phillips. Nasum Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain, and Nayeem Hasan then sparked Bangladesh's fightback, each claiming two wickets to reduce the tourists to 166-6. But Dean Foxcroft (36*) and Zachary Foulkes (28*) saw them over the line from there, with 10 balls to spare.
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Bangladesh still lead the series 2-1 after dominant performances in the first two matches. Their all-international pace attack made a roaring start in the first unofficial ODI, dismissing four of New Zealand's top five batters for ducks. In the second match, they secured an 87-run victory powered by joint centuries from Mahidul Islam Ankon and Nurul Hasan that propelled them to 344-5.
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