IND vs AUS, Explained: The ICC Rule That Denied Rinku Singh a Last-ball Match-winning Six in Vizag

Rinku Singh produced another finishing touch with the bat to guide India to a last-ball win over Australia in a record chase of 209 in a T20I in Vizag on Thursday.

With Australian pacer Sean Abbott left to defend one run off one delivery, Rinku stayed calm and dispatched the full delivery over long-on for a huge six.

A few seconds later though, the no-ball siren went up and it meant India’s victory was sealed right before that six from the bat of Rinku and the hosts took home the win with a delivery to spare.

But Rinku did hit the six, right?

So why wasn’t it added to his total despite of the legality of the delivery?

ICC Rule 

The ICC Men’s T20I Playing Conditions 16.5.1 says, “As soon as a result is reached …match is at an end. Nothing that happens thereafter, except as in clause 41.17.2 (Penalty runs), shall be regarded as part of it.”

The fact that just one run was needed to win and it was achieved because Abbott overstepped meant the match was deemed to have ended then and there.

However, if India needed anything more than one run then the six would have counted.

“If a boundary is scored before the batters have completed sufficient runs to win the match, the whole of the boundary allowance shall be credited to the side’s total and, in the case of a hit by the bat, to the striker’s score,” as per the ICC playing conditions.

Rinku finished unbeaten on 22 off 14, an innings that featured four fours.

A Record Chase

Fresh from their title clash in the ODI World Cup last weekend, India and Australia locked horns in the series opening T20I on Thursday night in Vizag.

Both the teams fielded second-string teams giving rest to several of their first-choice stars following a gruelling world cup campaign.

A blistering maiden T20I ton from Josh Inglis and a solid fifty from Steve Smith propelled Australia to a mammoth 208/3 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

Australia then sent back both India openers cheaply inside the first three overs before captain Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan rebuilt the chase with a massive 112-run partnership for the third wicket.

Suryakumar top-scored with 80 while Ishan belted 58.

The exit of Suryakumar in the 18th over followed with India losing three wickets in as many deliveries in the final over before they got over the line.

This is the highest successful chase for an Indian men’s T20I team.