Cricket: Fans slam umpires' call to take lunch break with India needing just two runs to win

Virat Kohli of India. Photo / Photosport

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took career-best figures as India cruised to a thumping nine-wicket ODI victory over South Africa.

Impressive as the win was for the tourists, their moment of triumph was reduced to a farce by the umpires.

Aleem Dar and Adrian Holdstock stuck to the rules and called for a lunch break with the tourists needing just two runs for victory at Centurion.

That ensured the final act was played out 40 minutes later in front of a sparse crowd, a decision that left both teams bemused.

Cricket is bloody bonkers ... Lunch break taken with 2 runs required for Victory ... Surely common sense comes into play !!!!!!!!! #SAvsIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 4, 2018

Are You Serious??? Taking lunch with India needing 2 runs to win. Cricket is its own enemy. 🙈🙊 #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 4, 2018

At times cricket doesn't help itself - 2 runs needed to win the match and they take lunch #SAvIND

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 4, 2018

Chahal finished with 5-22 in 8.2 overs, ripping through the middle-order as India won the toss and skittled their hosts for 118, South Africa's lowest total in home ODI matches.

India then knocked off the victory target in 20 overs to humiliate their hosts.

After victory in the opening match of the six-game series in Durban, India always looked in control of the chase as opener Shikhar Dhawan (51 not out from 56 balls) and captain Virat Kohli (46 not out from 50 balls) made light work of the home attack.

The third match in the series will be played in Cape Town on Wednesday.

-AAP

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