OTD | Peter Kirsten refused to walk out after Kapil Dev ran him out at the non-striker’s end in 1992

On this day in 1992, Peter Kirsten sparked controversy by refusing to walk after Kapil Dev ran him out. In recent years, Mankading has been seen in the cricket world on several occasions. In recent years, several Indian cricket players, including Ravichandran Ashwin and Deepti Sharma, have engaged in the controversial practice of marketing. Despite being acknowledged as lawful under the ICC rulebook, concerns were voiced about the game’s spirit. 

Many believed Ashwin was the first Indian to use this controversial method to run out a non-striker when he dismissed Joe Root in a 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) match between the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. However, on a 1992 tour of South Africa, India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev had already done the same to fire Peter Kirsten. 

In the seven-match series, the St George Park Cricket Ground in Gqeberha hosted the second One-Day International. After winning the toss, Mohammad Azharuddin, the captain of India at the time, decided to bat first. The visitors finished their innings with a meagre 147 runs after failing to display their best batting performance. 

In the third over, Kapil Dev dismissed opener Andrew Hudson, costing South Africa an early wicket as they started the chase. Alongside captain Kepler Wessels, Peter Kristen entered the batting order at number three. Dev Mankaded Kristen, dismissing the Proteas batsman for eight runs, and the two were able to amass a 12-run partnership. 

Before Kirsten came in to bat, not much was happening in the match as South Africa scored 20 runs in eight overs with one wicket lost. On the first ball of the ninth over, Kapil manked Kirsten, shocking the on-field umpires as well as the onlookers. Kirsten had previously been outside the crease before the ball was delivered.

In the second game, Kapil witnessed him doing the same thing. Without warning, he removed the non-striker’s bail and turned to face the umpire, pleading for a runout. Umpire Cyrus Mitchley was compelled to dismiss Kirsten after the appeal, but he was not entirely pleased with the method of dismissal. However, South Africa managed to win the game by six wickets.

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