1 day ago
24
Irate cricket commentators and scores of fans have labelled the decision from two on-field umpires to call off a WBBL game in Adelaide a 'disgrace' and 'utter embarrassment'.
The farcical scenes cost the Sydney Thunder a likely win on Friday night, with the rain-affected contest abandoned when the visitors were three runs short of victory against the Strikers.
The away side were 0-43 off just 2.5 overs and were potentially one ball away from chasing down Adelaide's total of 2-45 off their five overs.
Much to the dismay of Sydney Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield, the umpires called for ground staff to come onto the field.
At the time of the decision, it wasn't raining.
'I'm a bit disappointed,' Litchfield told Channel Seven after blasting an unbeaten 38 from 15 balls.
'It's a shame. The fact that we got on....and it was a really entertaining game.
'Both the Strikers and us needed a win, so we were pretty keen to get the two points (when we discussed the weather before the game).
Irate cricket commentators and fans have labelled the decision from two on-field umpires to call off a WBBL game in Adelaide a 'disgrace' and 'utter embarrassment' (pictured, Sydney Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield)
The away side were 0-43 off just 2.5 overs and were potentially one ball away from chasing down Adelaide's total of 2-45 off their five overs (pictured, a bemused Phoebe Litchfield after the match was called off)
Much to the dismay of the Sydney Thunder, the two umpires called for ground staff to come onto the field and the match was abandoned
'The ground staff did an amazing job to get the ground up and running. For all that work, it's disappointing to not get a result.'
A number of cricket commentators at Adelaide Oval post game were far more scathing.
Katey Martin said on Channel 7: 'It's an embarrassment and they could have done things a lot better.'
Commentator Alister Nicholson weighed in with: 'An utter embarrassment what's taken place here.
'There is not a drop of rain at the moment, that game was within a whisker of being determined and the result was completely clear....the Sydney Thunder have been robbed of victory.'
A fired up Nicholson also called it 'farcical'.
Former Aussie Test batsman Callum Ferguson said: 'I'm absolutely blown away. It's actually embarrassing for the game.
'I'm flabbergasted right now. It's unacceptable in my eyes.'
Supporters also vented on Facebook, with many labelling the outcome a 'disgrace' - and some went a step further, adamant the result was fixed.
Daily Mail does not suggest that is the case.
