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'Speechless': Cricket fans blow up over 'ridiculous' BBL moment

The bat flip lands on its side ahead of the Big Bash clash between the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat.
Fans have criticised the bat flip procedure ahead of Big Bash clashes after unlikely scenes before the Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers semi-final. (Image: Fox Sports)

The Big Bash semi-final was a one-sided affair with the Perth Scorchers demolishing the Brisbane Heat, but the game got off to an unlikely start.

Heat captain Chris Lynn and Scorchers captain Ashton Turner joined the officials on Manuka Oval for the traditional bat flip to see who would pick to bat or bowl.

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But in an unlikely turn of events, the first two bat flips landed on the edge.

Lynn shared a laugh at the scenario, which is more likely these days with the thick bat edges.

However the third flip yielded a result.

But fans took to social media to slam the traditional bat flip as a ‘ridiculous” look for the gentleman’s game.

Former Aussie quick Mitchell Johnson also took to social media to blast the procedure ahead of the game.

“I’m guessing sponsors will be plastered all over the bat. What next, one hand one bounce, electric wickie, 6 & out, unless hit out of the stadium,” he wrote, according to Fox Sports.

“Let’s worry about game development & other important things that matter. Is the baggy green top priority these days?”

Scorchers set up Sixers clash

The Scorchers, having suffered a humbling nine-wicket loss to the Sixers in their qualifying final, crushed Brisbane Heat by 49 runs in Thursday night's rain-affected contest.

Livingstone whacked 77 off 39 deliveries, helping rocket Perth to 1-189 from 18.1 overs in Canberra.

Showers halted play and prompted a premature end to the innings, setting Brisbane a revised target of of 200 from 18 overs.

It was an imposing equation, even before captain Chris Lynn departed in the fourth over.

It looked near-impossible come the eighth over, when the Heat crashed to 4-57 following Marnus Labuschagne's dismissal to veteran legspinner Fawad Ahmed.

The required run-rate exploded as the Scorchers turned the screws, restricting Brisbane to 9-150.

Jason Behrendorff, who snared 2-19 and was on a hat-trick after removing Lynn and Joe Denly, set the tone for Perth's star-studded attack.

Aaron Hardie of the Scorchers and Colin Munro of the Scorchers celebrate victory during the Big Bash League 'Challenger Final' match between the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat.
Aaron Hardie of the Scorchers and Colin Munro of the Scorchers celebrate victory during the Big Bash League 'Challenger Final' match between the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat. (Photo by Jason McCawley - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Livingstone's match-winning knock was followed by an unbeaten 75-run partnership between Mitch Marsh (49 not out) and Cameron Bancroft (58 not out).

Jason Roy's ankle injury, suffered during a soccer warm-up game, meant former Test opener Bancroft was recalled for his first BBL game since January 19.

The pressure was on Livingstone to start with a bang, especially with fellow Englishman Roy an enforced omission.

Livingstone didn't disappoint, smashing six sixes as he brought up a half-century in just 27 balls.

with AAP

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