Lymington batsman Bryn Darbyshire may have written himself into cricketing folklore after being given out Handled the Ball – off a no ball !
The bizarre incident occurred at the Lymington Sports Ground as Darbyshire led Lymington’s pursuit of a handy 249-6 posted by South Wilts seconds in a Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 game.
The 35-year old left-hander had already made 42 (from 23 balls) – including a six off the second ball he faced - and had guided Lymington’s reply to a healthy 103-1 in the 16th over when South Wilts bowler Dominic Webb overstepped the bowling crease.
As ‘no ball’ was called, so Darbyshire went on to the back foot and tried to square-cut Webb to the boundary.
But as he under-edged his shot, the ball dropped down, away from the stumps, towards the neighbouring wicket, whereupon Darbyshire stepped away from the popping crease and attempted to catch the bouncing ball with this left hand (with the intention of returning it to the bowler – he later attested) and dropped it – contrary to the Laws of cricket !
The initial half-hearted appeals by several South Wilts fielder were followed by a full appeal from the fielding side. This culminated in the umpires conferring and sending Darbyshire off to the pavilion.
He was dismissed under Law 33 of the historic game – but quite possibly has become the first cricketer ever to be given out Handled the Ball off a no-ball !
Normally, a no-ball invalidates virtually all dismissals, except run-outs, but batsmen can be given out off ‘illegal’ deliveries if they subsequently handle the ball.
Ironically, he became the fourth batsmen in Southern League history to be given out for handling the ball.
Darbyshire’s departure triggered a Lymington collapse, five wickets falling for 20 runs and the hosts sinking to 123-6 (Ollie Kelly 34).
Kieran (26) and younger brother Conor Moors (31) tried in vain to reboot the Lymington run chase, but both fell to catches (one spectacular diving catch by Ben Draper on the boundary) off 16-year old William Wade, pictured, who earlier in the day had celebrated his maiden Premier League century.
The talented right-hand all-rounder, who finished with 3-15, struck a very composed 103, underpinning the South Wilts total of 249-6 (Owain Phillips 44).
Lymington were eventually all out for 191, giving South Wilts a maximum point win.
The bizarre incident occurred at the Lymington Sports Ground as Darbyshire led Lymington’s pursuit of a handy 249-6 posted by South Wilts seconds in a Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 game.
The 35-year old left-hander had already made 42 (from 23 balls) – including a six off the second ball he faced - and had guided Lymington’s reply to a healthy 103-1 in the 16th over when South Wilts bowler Dominic Webb overstepped the bowling crease.
As ‘no ball’ was called, so Darbyshire went on to the back foot and tried to square-cut Webb to the boundary.
But as he under-edged his shot, the ball dropped down, away from the stumps, towards the neighbouring wicket, whereupon Darbyshire stepped away from the popping crease and attempted to catch the bouncing ball with this left hand (with the intention of returning it to the bowler – he later attested) and dropped it – contrary to the Laws of cricket !
The initial half-hearted appeals by several South Wilts fielder were followed by a full appeal from the fielding side. This culminated in the umpires conferring and sending Darbyshire off to the pavilion.
He was dismissed under Law 33 of the historic game – but quite possibly has become the first cricketer ever to be given out Handled the Ball off a no-ball !
Normally, a no-ball invalidates virtually all dismissals, except run-outs, but batsmen can be given out off ‘illegal’ deliveries if they subsequently handle the ball.
Ironically, he became the fourth batsmen in Southern League history to be given out for handling the ball.
Darbyshire’s departure triggered a Lymington collapse, five wickets falling for 20 runs and the hosts sinking to 123-6 (Ollie Kelly 34).
Kieran (26) and younger brother Conor Moors (31) tried in vain to reboot the Lymington run chase, but both fell to catches (one spectacular diving catch by Ben Draper on the boundary) off 16-year old William Wade, pictured, who earlier in the day had celebrated his maiden Premier League century.
The talented right-hand all-rounder, who finished with 3-15, struck a very composed 103, underpinning the South Wilts total of 249-6 (Owain Phillips 44).
Lymington were eventually all out for 191, giving South Wilts a maximum point win.
