An incensed Matthew Wade blew up at umpire Paul Wilson on Thursday night over a contentious call that helped the Strikers produce the BBL’s greatest ever run chase.
The Strikers made 3-230 from 19.3 overs in reply to the Hurricanes’ record score of 4-229, making it the fifth-greatest T20 run chase of all time, and the best in 12 seasons of the BBL.
But it might’ve been a different story if not for a no-ball call in the 17th over.
BBL MADNESS: Matt Short smacks century in record run chase after no-ball controversy
LIVE: ‘Sad’ reality for cursed Aussie laid bare as Cummins faces major Khawaja call
The visitors looked set to regain the upper hand when Tim David pulled off a superb outfield catch to dismiss Adam Hose.
But with the Englishman on his way back to the dugout, the umpires called for a review of Faheem’s delivery, which was deemed a no ball.
The call left Wade furious, as the former Australia wicketkeeper remonstrated with on-field umpire Wilson.
“Oh dear … he’s looking like a baseball manager arguing with the ump,” Dan Ginnane said in commentary.
Strikers v Hurricanes: Match highlights | 03:54
Mark Waugh said he was surprised by the call, noting that the ball still had about a metre to drop before it reached Hose and likely would have been below hip-height.
“It’s got about a metre to go before it gets to where he is in his stance,” Waugh said.
“That was stopped a metre in front of the crease where he struck it. I think it’s dropping just under the hip.”
Instead of being 3-180, Hose was called back and smoked the free hit for six to make it 36 runs required from the last three overs.
The equation dropped to 25 from the last two overs, then 12 from the final over, with Short sealing a historic victory.
English import Zak Crawley said after the game that he also felt like it was the wrong decision.
“I didn’t think it was a no-ball because his (Hose’s) back leg was bent,” Crawley said.
“It was above waist-height so I could understand why they gave it, but I felt he was crouched.”
