Pollard’s ‘no’ to Lewis’s ton

Kieron Pollard, leading Barbaros Tridents in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League, came under fire for perceived unsportsmanlike conduct after deliberately bowling a no-ball that may have denied St Kitts and Nevis Patriots opener Evin Lewis a century at the end of an astonishing seven-over chase of 129.

Barbados had only managed 128 for nine in 20 overs and in chase, Lewis had gone on a tear with 11 sixes and six fours. He was batting on 97 off 32 balls when just one was needed to win, with Pollard coming on to bowl the first ball of the eighth over. If Lewis managed to hit a boundary, he would become the owner of the second-fastest T20 century of all time, slotting in below the 30-ball ton that Chris Gayle -- Lewis’s batting partner at the time and CPL captain -- hit for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers in the 2013 Indian Premier League 2013.

However, Pollard decided to bowl a no-ball which, while giving the Patriots the win by 10 wickets, also denied Lewis the chance to complete a spectacular hundred. He bowled a short, very wide ball while overstepping, seemingly making sure that Lewis would not be able to reach the delivery. Pollard was then the target of fans’ ire on social media, but Lewis was more diplomatic after the match.

“It hurts [on missing out on the hundred)], but hitting 97 not out off 33 balls? I'll take that any day,” said Lewis, who has also played for Bangladesh Premier League franchises Barisal Bulls and Dhaka Dynamites, said after the match. “I've been hitting the ball long and hard in the nets. Confident now and looking forward to the playoffs."