Ireland and Scotland were engaged in a jaw-dropping T20 encounter of the T20I tri-series in the Netherlands on 17 June (Sunday), unfortunately, that ended in a tie despite having the Super Over facility.
Ever since the T20 format came into existence to the game, all the matches whether be it a domestic game or an international if ends in a tie, are then decided over a Super Over. The team who wins the Super Over wins the contest
Under the ICC playing conditions for T20Is adopted on September 28, 2017, Law 16.3.1 reads, “If the scores are equal, the result shall be a tie and no account shall be taken of the number of wickets that have fallen. In the event of a tied match, the teams shall compete in a Super Over to determine the winner.”
Scotland had posted a commanding total of 185/4 – their highest in T20Is against Ireland with the help of collective batting efforts from George Munsey (46), Kyle Coetzer (54) and Calum MacLeod (46).
In reply, Ireland also had a great start in the chase, as Paul Stirling brilliant 81 off 41 deliveries helped them to reach near the target, but it was Safyan Sharif who turned the game in favor of Scotland when the Irish needed only seven runs to win the T20I.
Sharif picked up a crucial wicket of Kevin O'Brien in his first-ball of the last over and conceded just six runs, eventually, the game ended a tie. However, there could have been Super Over to declare the winner, but the match referee David Jukes and the on-field umpires Allan Haggo and WPM van Liemt said: “there would be no Super Over in the event of a tie.”
However, ICC has apologized to Ireland and Scotland for the error. As per reports in ESPNcricinfo, an ICC spokesperson said, “The match officials misinterpreted the T20I playing conditions which prevented the Super Over taking place following a tied match. This was a genuine oversight for which the ICC offers its sincere apologies to both Scotland and Ireland. We have picked up the matter with the officials and will mitigate against this happening in the future.”
The next T20I of the tri-series will be played between Scotland and the Netherlands on 20 June in Amstelveen.
