Marnus Labuschagne caught in 'wrong player' drama in strange BBL scenes

Aussie cricket fans were left in disbelief on Wednesday night after Marnus Labuschagne's bizarre wicket in Brisbane Heat's Big Bash win against the Perth Scorchers at the Gabba. The Heat wrapped up a home qualifying final with a 23-run win, thanks in large part to a brilliant display from Michael Neser with bat and ball.

The Heat all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 64 from 30 deliveries to record his highest score in the BBL. Neser's knock was a match-turning innings after his side had slumped to 5-91 in the 13th over, with the 33-year-old helping the home side reach 6-191.

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Neser also picked up two wickets (2-31), including the prized scalp of Perth danger man Zac Crawley (13) early on. He topped off the dazzling display with a superb running catch at deep mid-on to send Josh Inglis (28 off 20) packing when the Scorchers batter was looking particularly dangerous.

Marnus Labuschagne incident baffles viewers

However, it was an incident involving Labuschagne earlier in the evening that left viewers scratching their heads. The Aussie Test star was at the crease with teammate Sam Billings up the other end when he took a single off the last ball of the 10th over. That should have seen Labuschagne face the first ball of the next over but in a bizarre mix-up that went unnoticed by umpires, it was Billings that took the delivery.

Billings then hit a single to get off the mark and put Labuschagne on strike and his teammate was out the very next ball after being caught behind by Inglis off the bowling of Lance Morris for 45 runs. Fox Cricket's commentary team were quick to jump on the bizarre oversight and echoed the shock of many viewers on social media.

“I think it may be a controversial dismissal when the videotape’s looked back at Gilly,” Mark Howard said to Adam Gilchrist. The Aussie cricket great replied: “Yeah, what we think, Marnus with the second ball of the Morris over, previous delivery Billings scored a single, the last ball of the over prior to that Marnus scored a single.

“So Marnus should have been on strike for the first ball of the over. It’s what we can recollect. Clearly it’s not going to hold up the game now, they’re just going to move on.

“So Marnus scored a single off the last ball of the 10th over. They had drinks and came back out. Sam Billings faced the next ball when Marnus should have been facing. He gets a single and Marnus is out next ball. Extraordinary events.”

Michael Neser helps clinch top spot for Heat

Labuschagne's wicket left the Heat in a precarious position but Neser stood tall for the home side in proved to be a match-winning innings with the bat. Spinner Ashton Agar (2-29 off four) was the pick of the bowlers for Perth, with Australian Test squad member Matt Renshaw (18 off 15) among his two scalps. However, the night belonged to Neser and the Heat, who are now on 16 points, five clear of defending champions Perth and in an unassailable position.

"The story of the whole tournament is that we are all gelling on the field and off the field," Neser told Fox Sports. "Everyone is playing their roles superbly and we have adapted well. We play all the way to end of games and we have been on from game one. Fingers crossed we can continue this form into the finals."

Brisbane will now host the BBL qualifier on the Gold Coast on January 19 against the team that finishes second, with the winners going through to the final. The Heat will be without their Test stars in the finals though, along with Billings and Colin Munro who will join their International League T20 teams in the United Arab Emirates.

with AAP

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