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Toss controversy at CWC final

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Jeff Crowe
Jeff Crowe

Mumbai - New Zealand match referee Jeff Crowe found himself involved in more World Cup final controversy as confusion reigned at the toss between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday.

VIDEO: Final toss controversy

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After India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni spun the coin, it looked as if he thought he had won the toss.

But Crowe did not hear a call from Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara who, as the visiting skipper was supposed to nominate 'heads' or 'tails' while the coin was in the air.

There was a brief discussion between the two captains before former New Zealand skipper Crowe ordered a re-toss - an almost unheard of event in any cricket match and certainly one of this importance.

It was not the first time Crowe had been at the centre of a World Cup final controversy.

Four years ago in Barbados, when Australia beat Sri Lanka, Crowe was the match referee who oversaw a mistake by officials that led to the game resuming in near total darkness.

The officials had forgotten that, as 20 overs had been bowled in the second innings, a result could be declared.

Crowe, when pressed at a post-match news conference, blamed that error on now retired South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, who was the television replay official for that match.

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