Published on 01:30 PM, January 06, 2019

Batting partner and third umpire contribute in Warner dismissal

David Warner looks around in exasperation after his batting partner did not run. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

First it was Towhid Hridoy, then the third umpire, who made an incorrect call which led to David Warner's dismissal.

World-class batsman Warner, currently serving a one-year ban from international cricket due to a ball-tampering row, arrived here to play his first ever Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) tournament but the Sylhet captain's first innings did not end in the best of ways when his batting partner at the other end ran him out.

Towhid played the ball to square-leg and while Warner scampered to the other end, Towhid chose to stay at his end. Both men were left stranded at one end and Warner started the walk towards the dugout. The second mishap came from the third umpire, when on-field umpires asked for a review to the decision in order to see which batsman was actually out. Warner turned back and waited, exasperated at the fact that Towhid did not cut him any slack even as he was the captain and the senior player on the team.

The review showed that Warner had crossed Towhid when the bails were taken off at the other end. Towhid had not placed his bat when Warner made it to the striker's end.

Incredibly enough, Warner was the one who was given out. There was a lot of expectation from BPL fans to see Warner in action but the Australian's first ever BPL innings had a bitter ending after a 13-ball 14. Towhid, who could have sacrificed his wicket for his captain, did not last long either. He fell to Shahid Afridi, out leg-before after a struggling 24-ball 8.