'Worst ever': Viewers rage over 'shocking' cricket controversy
Cricket fans are calling on the use of DRS in the Big Bash League after another controversy in Sunday night's match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers.
The Hurricanes boosted their finals chances with a seven-run win that moved them into the top five, each team still having one game left to play.
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However, the win was somewhat overshadowed by another umpiring controversy that saw Sixers opener Josh Philippe the recipient of a brutally harsh LBW call.
Philippe was given out for 12 runs after a delivery that ball-tracking replays showed was high and well wide of his leg stump.
The batsman was perhaps lucky to survive an LBW appeal in the over before, with replays showing the ball going on to clip the top of the stumps.
However, the delivery that the Sixers batsman did get out on was not even close, prompting an angry response from commentator Andrew Symonds and viewers labelling the standard of umpiring this season as the worst they’ve seen.
“Talked earlier in the competition about using the technology that’s available, that there, you can sort that situation out with what we’ve got,” Symonds said.
“I’d just like to see a bit of common sense. Look at the height of that, it’s got him up on the thigh pad. I know he’s not a tall man but that’s angling down leg. It’s a shame for the game really. Philippe needed to spend some time out there to give his side a real chance here.”
State of this BBL umpiring is absolutely horrendous
— Martin Murray-Brown (@MurrayB85) January 24, 2021
Because of umpire howler, #BBL10 is a joke!!! #joshphilippe
— Tom Ford (@TomFord18584932) January 24, 2021
If @FoxCricket can show a DRS replay, surely we can use it in the match. Umpiring can be a tough gig but as @ShaneWarne has said many times this season, poor decisions will drive the best players away from the BBL. Let's use the technology we have!#commonsemseplease #BBL10
— The Considered Opinion of Alex (@TalkswithAl) January 24, 2021
Umpiring Level in BBL has been Worse I have seen ever!
No wonder Cricket Australia is known for cheap umpiring.#BBL10 #SYSvsHBH— Michael Porter (@Educated_Writer) January 24, 2021
Sorry @BBL the standard of umpiring is shocking in this competition ! FFS use the technology available instead of having games ruined by sub standard umpiring
— Jim (@CarJim67) January 24, 2021
Another howler of an umpiring decision in the @BBL Time for #DRS #Overdue @SixersBBL
— Richard Cohen (@rjcohen75) January 24, 2021
@BBL please bring in the DRS as umpiring is pathetic.
— Vijay Rajguru (@VijayRa17417814) January 24, 2021
Worst umpiring in #BBL10 continues, Given not out in 1st LBW call while it almost hits 50% of the stumps but in the 2nd LBW call of Phillippe which was missing stumps called as out by Umpire.
Bring DRS in BBL10 @BBL @CricketAus #BBL10— RCBVK18 (@rcbvk06) January 24, 2021
Hobart openers set up win
Matthew Wade and Darcy Short produced the biggest partnership of the BBL season to guide the Hurricanes to a win that leaves their finals destiny in their own hands.
The Hurricanes were sent in to bat at the MCG on Sunday night and took to the task immediately, with Wade and Short both blasting half-centuries in a 145-run opening stand from 87 balls.
It laid the platform for a big Hurricanes total of 8-188.
In reply, Jordan Silk (78) fired and Moises Henriques (43) rode his luck through two dropped catches.
The Sixers took 20 runs off Riley Meredith's final over, which included two no-balls, but fell just short with 8-181.
"It was a good win but it was probably a lot harder than it should've been in the end," Wade said.
"Obviously Riley would be very disappointed with the way he finished off and it makes the scoreboard look very flattering on their side."
The Hurricanes also snared the bonus point in a result that moved them up to fifth spot.
It means they can now make sure of a finals place with victory over last-placed Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday.
The Sixers have already qualified and can still finish the regular season on top of the table if results go their way.
Test batsman Wade (86 off 44) played the lead role for the Hurricanes in smacking 10 fours and three sixes, while Short (72 off 52) hit seven fours and three sixes.
Sean Abbott (2-32) eventually removed both Hobart openers, while Jake Ball (2-44) and Ben Dwarshuis (2-39) also picked up multiple wickets as six fell in the final three overs.
The Sixers' fightback kept the score below 190 after it had seemed set to soar beyond 200.
Moises Henriques was dropped twice by Short - on 3 and 32 - and smashed four sixes as the Sixers reached 3-100 from 11 overs.
But Sandeep Lamichhane (2-24) turned the match Hobart's way, removing Henriques and Dan Christian (0) in consecutive deliveries.
Nathan Ellis took 3-36 and could consider himself unlucky not to have claimed more wickets.
He thought he had bowled Dwashuis for a golden duck when the ball clipped the off bail, which lit up but was not dislodged.
Dawid Malan also dropped Silk, who was then on 60, off Ellis' bowling.
It almost proved costly as Silk threatened to drag the Sixers to what would have been a remarkable win before he holed out in the final over.
with AAP
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