Twenty20 Cup umpires admit error

Leicestershire celebrate their four-run win in the final

The umpires officiating at the final of the Twenty20 Cup between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire have admitted they made a blunder.

They should have called the final delivery by Jim Allenby a no-ball because it was above waist height.

Notts needed 11 to win off the final ball and Will Smith smashed a six.

If it had been called a no-ball, Notts would have been awarded two runs and had an extra delivery in which to try to score the three runs needed.

Reaction: Leicestershire's Darren Maddy and Stuart Broad

Reaction: Nottinghamshire captain Stephen Fleming

I looked at it on TV when I got back and it was a no-ball. It was a marginal one but it was a no-ball Umpire Allan Jones

Umpires Allan Jones and Peter Hartley have owned up to the mistake which cost Notts a realistic chance of pulling off an amazing win.

Instead Leicestershire won by four runs to lift the trophy for the second time in the competition's four-year history.

Jones said: "I looked at it on TV when I got back and it was a no-ball. It was a marginal one but it was a no-ball.

"I must say that I was concentrating on the four men inside the circle and keeping the water out of my eyes at the time, because it was raining very hard. And I had the lights in my eyes."

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Jones has now called for a change in the rules.

He added: "These calls are often very difficult. I would be in favour of a rule change, where a no-ball is called when it is above stump height. Because everyone knows where the stumps are."

Nottinghamshire coach Mick Newell said he will not make a formal complaint despite his belief the last delivery of the Twenty20 final was a no-ball.

Newell said: "I'm a little disappointed as I thought it was fairly clear, but it happens I suppose.

"I won't be mentioning it to the umpires. They're not going to change their minds now.

"I assume either umpire could have called it had they seen it but Leicestershire were already celebrating, so it was a tough situation and if they don't see it they don't see it."

Winning skipper Jeremy Snape disagreed, insisting the decision to allow the delivery was in line with the policy the umpires had followed all day.

"I had complete faith in the umpires," he said.

"We got in a winning position and Jimmy (Allenby) - credit to him - bowled a great last couple.

"The ball was wet and the bowlers had rags to control the ball in the rain so it was hard but we've seen balls at that height all day not being called.

"At the end of the day the umpires were very consistent."