Sehwag's century should stand.

With scores level, when Sehwag was about to face the controversial ball, he had already played 98 balls and was batting on 99. Next is the no-ball which he hits for a 6. On the records, it is shown that India has won the match, and Sehwag is left unbeaten on 99, having faced 100 balls. According to the pundits, since the “no-ball came first” India had won the match, so the 6 is not counted in the record book.

With so much of hue and cry over the matter, everyone is blaming the bowler, the captain, team and the SL board. All experts have had their say in print and visual media with all sorts of view expressed – but none actually examining the law itself. So, let us look at what the laws of cricket actually say, which can be applicable and relevant to this episode? According to the law :

a)      The ball does not become “dead” once the no-ball has been bowled.

b)      A penalty of one run shall be awarded instantly on the call of no-ball. Unless the call is revoked, this penalty shall stand even if a batsman is dismissed. It shall be in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary allowance and any other penalties awarded.

The operative part of the law is, “the penalty of one run shall be in addition to any other runs scored”.

The argument is this. First, the match is not over with the no-ball declaration, since the ball is not “dead” yet. The match gets over only after the ball is “dead”.

Secondly, the penalty is in addition to other runs scored – so, the 6 should be the winning run, and penalty of 1 run is added for the no-ball.

Hence, Sehwag’s century should recorded as such in the scorebooks.