Bryn Darbyshire believed to be first batsman dismissed for handling a no-ball

An amateur cricketer in England is believed to be the first batsman dismissed by an obscure rule, according to a report in The Times.

Bryn Darbyshire, who plays for Lymington in the Hampshire league, was on 42 not out when the umpire called a no-ball against the bowler from South Wilts.

The 35-year-old batsman attempted to smack the ball to the boundary but only clipped it. Without thinking, he made the fatal cricketing decision of bending down and picking up the ball. The opposing bowler and fielders immediately went up in appeal and the umpire gave him out.

Although other batsman have been given out handled the ball, Darbyshire is believed to be the first from a no-ball.

According to Rule 33 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket, Darbyshire should have first asked a fielder for permission before picking up the ball.

According to The Times, Darbyshire was less than happy with the dismissal and said he was a victim of "bad sportsmanship".

"I had hit the same bowler [who appealed] for six off my second ball and was taking him apart. They probably wanted to see the back of me. I have been told that it is a first and it is cricketing history, which would give the impression it was down to bad luck, but it wasn't, it was down to bad sportsmanship."

The Times consulted Mark Williams who is a laws adviser with the Marylebone Cricket Club, said he believed it was the first time a batsman had been dismissed in this fashion and also said that, in this case, "the fielding team were perfectly justified in appealing".