EXPLAINED: Why Was Xavier Bartlett’s Comical Misfield Given As 5 Runs?

When Xavier Bartlett misfielded in the eighth over of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase during the Punjab Kings vs. Kolkata Knight Riders match in Mullanpur, it was a really funny moment.

On the fifth delivery of the eighth over, Yuzvendra Chahal was brushed to the deep square leg boundary by Venkatesh Iyer, and Xavier Bartlett easily picked up the ball by running to his left.

Although he took up the ball cleanly, it slid out of his grasp and went to the boundary cushions directly behind him as he shaped to release it.

The umpire ruled the misfield an overthrow and awarded five runs because the fielder had already thrown the ball and batters Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi had already completed a run by the time the boundary occurred.

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According to article 19.8, “If the boundary results from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder, the runs scored shall be 1) any runs for penalties awarded to either side,” this was perfectly within the bounds of the cricket rules set forth by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). 2) as well as the boundary allowance 3) as well as the number of runs the batters have finished and, if they had already crossed at the time of the throw or act, the run in progress.

That added up to five runs in this case, leaving Bartlett looking pale following the game’s hilarious turn. However, as KKR began to crumble like a deck of cards, Bartlett made amends in the following over of Chahal by catching Raghuvanshi.