Nepal were handed two five-run penalties during their innings against the Netherlands in an ODI in Dundee today (June 10), meaning the Dutch, unusually, began their innings on 10-0 before a ball was bowled.
Nepal posted 239-9 in their innings, batting first in a tri-series with Netherlands and Scotland which is part of the ICC Men's Cricket World League Two. Middle-order batter Aarif Sheikh scored 84 off 85 balls as the side's top-scorer, with Paul van Meekeren the pick of the Netherlands' bowlers with figures of 4-58.
However, the Netherlands only had to chase 230 rather than the 240 they would have required to win had Nepal not been handed two run penalties for damaging the pitch. The controversy began after Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed in the 33rd over, bringing Basir Ahamad to the crease. Ahamad was reportedly warned after facing the very first ball of his innings for damaging the pitch.
What are the rules on batters damaging the pitch?
Under the MCC Laws of Cricket, Law 41.14.1 – which concerns a batter damaging the pitch – reads: "It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause."
If a player is deemed to be within breach of that law: "The first instance the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler's end umpire shall then warn both batters that the practice is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batter. inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred."
If another instance of any batter from the warned side being in breach of Law 41.14.1 happens, the following will apply: "The bowler's end umpire shall disallow all runs to the batting side, return any not out batter to his/her original end, signal No ball or Wide to the scorers if applicable, award five penalty runs to the fielding side, award any other five-run Penalty that is applicable, inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action."
What happened in the NEP v NED match?
Following the application of the run penalties, Netherlands began their innings already on 10-0. At the 13-over mark of the chase, Netherlands were 68-2, having lost both openers in the first 12 overs.
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