'What a disgrace': Sri Lanka 'robbed' in massive T20 controversy
Cricket fans are crying foul after Sri Lanka's loss in the second T20 against Australia, with many of the belief the tourists were dudded by a missed wide call in the final regulation over of the thrilling encounter.
Sri Lanka staged a stunning fightback on Sunday night to send their match to a super-over, however they could only muster five runs in the extra period and went down in vain.
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But many thought Sri Lanka should have won the match on the final ball before the super-over due to a controversial wide that wasn't called.
The tourists needed 19 to win from the final six balls off Marcus Stoinis, and Maheesh Theekshana smacked a four off the final delivery to tie the scores.
But two balls earlier the Sri Lankans thought they should have received an extra run when Stoinis bowled a delivery that appeared to be a wide.
The ball looked to go outside the blue lines that regulate wides, however umpire Rod Tucker didn't call it and Sri Lanka scampered through for a bye.
Had the wide been called they would have won the game on the final ball, rather than having to go to a super-over.
Taday Srilanka cricket team lost because of weak decision#AUSvSL #RodTucker pic.twitter.com/PTDsr8oWko
— Lelum Sasmitha (@lelum_sasmitha) February 13, 2022
“To me that’s a wide,” Shane Warne said in commentary for Fox Cricket.
“I think Sri Lanka should have got that extra run which means they would have won the game.
“Even the batsman is saying how’s that not a wide?”
Kerry O’Keeffe agreed, saying: “It was outside the blue ... that’s a wide.”
Fans were up in arms on social media.
@ICC how is this not a wide? Cost Sri Lanka the T20I. @MCCOfficial #Cricket #SLvAUS https://t.co/kh5ApHp8rJ
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) February 13, 2022
Sri Lanka should have won by now, 19.5 was clearly a wide. Umpires having a howler! #AUSvsSL
— Miflaliqbal (@Miflaliqbal) February 13, 2022
Should of been a Sri Lanka win. That second last ball was a wide #AUSvSL
— Dan 🇮🇹 🇦🇺🖤🤍 (@TheDak04) February 13, 2022
Rod Tucker ! You won't see the heaven
Robbed off srilanka a massive wide . What a disgrace of an umpiring #AUSvSL— Bhat Umer (@bhatumer401) February 13, 2022
Sri lanka should’ve won. Robbed by the umpire for not giving the wide
— Huzaifa. (@HuzaifaQureshii) February 13, 2022
Sri Lanka been robbed there; definite wide second last ball #AUSvSL
— Stuart Akister (@StuartAkister) February 13, 2022
Australia beat Sri Lanka in thrilling super-over
Josh Hazlewood's miserly five runs conceded in the subsequent super-over allowed the home side to claim victory, with Stoinis taking just three balls to score the five runs required.
The quick, who finished the standard 20 overs with figures of 3-22 from four overs, said he had no hesitation about stepping up when called upon to bowl the super over.
"I think everyone wants to bowl those," he said.
"It's an exciting challenge to be put under that pressure when you're bowling in the last few overs when it's tight or if it's a super over.
"It's just as hard at the start when you've only got two fielders out if the wickets are good. I think everyone wants to bowl those overs and nail them.
"I guess that's when you get put up in lights, like in the IPL. It's good to be the go to man."
The biggest concern for Australia out of Sunday's game was a nasty concussion for Steve Smith.
Smith dived to take a catch on the boundary rope in the final over before landing awkwardly on his head.
Smith went to flick the ball back into the field of play but he landed directly on his temple.
"It all happened pretty quickly and whenever someone dives and doesn't get up it's a concern," Hazlewood said.
"It's good to see him walking around now and he's walking around the changing room now.
"The early signs are good and I guess the medicos will make their call and assess him later."
with AAP
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