Derrick Brangman forced a match between Western Stars and Bailey’s Bay to be abandoned after refusing to walk when he was controversially dismissed at St John’s Field on Sunday.

Bay all-rounder Brangman stood his ground for seven minutes after being caught on the boundary for a duck off a full toss from spinner PJ Thomas before stand-in umpire Kent Gibbons had enough and drew the stumps.

Bay had scored 59 runs for the loss of four wickets, chasing Stars’ total of 199 with 18 overs remaining, when Brangman’s act of defiance brought a premature and unsavoury end to the match.

Brangman, batting at No 6, believed the umpire should have signalled a no-ball as he felt Thomas’s non-pitching delivery had been unfair and dangerous.

Neither Gibbons, a West Indies Cricket Umpires Association certified umpire, nor his square leg colleague Wayne Campbell, a Stars representative, had been assigned to the game and were drafted in because of an umpire shortage.

Another Premier Division match between St George’s and Somerset Cricket Club was also called off on Sunday because of a lack of umpires.

Irving Romaine, the Bay assistant coach, believes that the absence of official umpires helped create a climate for the farcical finish.

“Derrick’s feeling was that [the decision] was too unjust for him to walk,” Romaine said. “It was out of frustration more than anything; he has apologised to his team-mates.

“I don’t think it would have happened if they had been official umpires. I think he would have walked. I don’t know, I’ve never been part of anything like that before.”

Romaine admits Brangman’s behaviour was disrespectful to the game, although he believes the Somerset Cup Match player received a poor decision.

“The ball looked high to me, but it obviously looked low to Western Stars,” said the former Bermuda captain.

“Each player still has to respect the game. Whatever happens you have to respect the game and cricket is going to lose out if behaviour like this keeps happening.

“It’s hard for a weekend like this, though; I’m sure every player who played would rather be running around at carnival [The Bermuda Heroes Weekend].”

Arnold Manders, the Stars coach, has called for the Bermuda Cricket Board and domestic clubs to take a firm stance against players who show a disregard for the spirit of the game.

Last month Malachi Jones walked out on Southampton Rangers after being on the receiving end of a contentious caught behind on the first ball of the day against St David’s at Lord’s.

“I’ve never seen it before in my life,” Manders said of Brangman’s refusal to walk.

“Derrick isn’t usually like that. I don’t know what went through his mind; I can’t speak for him.

“It’s a problem but nobody seems to want to take a stance. The board and the clubs need to sit down and talk because it’s hurting cricket. I don’t know where we go from here.”

Manders also praised the umpiring of Gibbons and Campbell and did not believe Brangman was the victim of a bad decision.

“Kent Gibbons has umpired internationally and at Cup Match, and Wayne Campbell has umpired for a few years,” the former Bermuda coach said.

“From my point of view it was some of best umpiring we’ve had all year; I thought they did a good job.

“Personally, I didn’t think it was a no-ball.

“If the umpires gives you out, you have to go.”

It is understood that Stars will be awarded maximum points, although Manders takes no pleasure in winning in such a manner.

“Nobody likes to win that way,” he said. “They still had five batsman left and had a chance to win.”