The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2017-18 match between Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades took a bizarre turn in the last over. The controversy regarding the last ball of the innings has caused a full-blown war between the people who have supported the umpire’s decision and vice versa.
But before we get into the details of the matter, let’s understand what exactly happened on the last ball of Sydney’s innings.
Melbourne posted a total of 120 runs on the board in the first innings. Chasing a target of 121 runs, Sydney were 6 for 114 after 19 overs with just 7 runs to win the match from 6 balls. As a result of good bowling from Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Aley needed to score 3 runs off the last ball of the innings.
All Aley could do was work the ball towards fine leg and take a single. As soon as the Melbourne wicketkeeper Emma Inglis collected the ball she started celebrating. The ball seemed dead at the moment as both the batsmen had planted their bats on their respective creases.
Aley was quick to respond as she sneaked a quick single as Inglis and her teammates were busy celebrating prematurely as the umpire did not signal dead ball. She was stunned when she came to know that the match has been tied and the winner will be now be decided by superover.
Here’s the video of the incident:
Brilliant awareness from Sarah Aley takes this to a Super Over!
: https://t.co/r9Ifc6XRyn #WBBL03 pic.twitter.com/EOn6xx3QNz— Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) January 3, 2018
Followers of the league were divided in their opinion as a few believed that the ball was ‘dead’ and the run was illegal while others felt that Aley was right in taking the second run. Here are the divided reactions on Twitter and Facebook:
The Laws of Cricket are clear. The umpire was right to allow the run.
The umpire had not called “over” or “time”. MCC Law 17.4 states that when the ball is dead on the 6th legal ball, the umpire calls “over”.
That hadn’t happened; so the Sixers had every right to steal the run.— Michael Shillito (@tealfooty) January 3, 2018
Actually the dead ball rule is as follows:
It HAD settled as per 20.1.1.1 and if you review footage it should have been clear to bowlers end umpire that both teams considered it dead under 20.1.2. Only during celebration did the Sixers bats run. pic.twitter.com/2WJpdcnhh5— Will MacArthur (@WillMacArthur) January 3, 2018
Renegades celebrating (ball settled in keepers hand) and Sixers not attempting a run with heads bowed. pic.twitter.com/0r8hZsIWqf
— Will MacArthur (@WillMacArthur) January 3, 2018
The Renegades got up in the super over. Otherwise it could have been the cricket equivalent of siren-gate……
— Michael Shillito (@tealfooty) January 3, 2018
Correct call. Even the renegades captain knew, she pointed it out & then ran for the attempted run out. Crazy sequence
— Cricket Australia Fan (@CricketAustFan) January 3, 2018
Interesting, Aley right on the edge of declining, but didn’t totally give up on the play you’d have to say. I’m comfortable with the decision. pic.twitter.com/BQBp5jLBBk
— Punt Pod (@PuntPod) January 3, 2018
Glad the right result in the end @RenegadesWBBL. Question the sportsmanship. Within the rules but so too was the infamous underarm delivery.
— Boydo (@BoydosBest) January 3, 2018
worst sportsmanship I have ever seen by the batsmen Disgraceful way to try win
— Looch (@spalliera) January 3, 2018
nonsense. Classic example of unprofessional premature celebration.
— Andrew (@shortflyslip) January 3, 2018
However, Melbourne had the last laugh as they were able to chase down the target on 9 runs. Melbourne got off to a good start in both the innings of the superover. They picked up the wicket on the first ball and Jess Duffin scored a boundary off the first ball of their innings to relieve the pressure.
WICKET! First ball and Atapattu takes the catch!
: https://t.co/r9Ifc6XRyn #WBBL03 pic.twitter.com/KyEiRq3PWO— Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) January 3, 2018
This shot from Jess Duffin on the first ball of the Super Over relieved the pressure for @RenegadesWBBL. #WBBL03 pic.twitter.com/FCdiR8WyBV
— Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) January 3, 2018
Miss the first Super Over of #WBBL03 yesterday? We've got you covered pic.twitter.com/Mxx2rUBWoZ
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) January 4, 2018
Had the result of the match gone the other way round there would have been chances of a bigger controversy.
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Author’s take: In the end, I can say that justice was served. It was not premature of the wicketkeeper to celebrate early but the batsman’s fault to try and take a single even when the ball is dead.
