Three incorrect umpiring decisions in Melbourne's 22-run win over the Sydney Thunder in Canberra on Saturday has prompted fresh calls for a Big Bash decision review system.
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Thunder star Usman Khawaja was sent packing for just seven runs in the third over, adjudged to have hit the ball through to wicketkeeper Ben Dunk off Pakistan import Dilbar Hussain, although replays showed he hadn't made contact with the ball which appeared to flick his pad strap on the way through.
A disgruntled Khawaja stood in disbelief like most of the 3295-strong crowd, before walking from the ground without the option to challenge the decision.
"I've been pretty firm on this one for a long time now and I believe it needs to happen, and the sooner it happens the better," Thunder captain Callum Ferguson said.
"DRS is going to save us some of those moments where the players that do bring people through the gates have an opportunity to have a review and make sure that we don't see too many howlers.
"It's a tough gig umpiring, it gives them a bit of help too.
"I remember playing one day cricket. The third umpire up in the box, whilst the player was walking off the ground would be able to have a look at the basic footage and be able to overturn anything he thought might be an error from the umpire.
"That's absolute basics and we've seen some big decisions back in those days overturned that have probably avoided some drastic changes in momentum."
In the previous over Khawaja had been struck painfully on the right wrist by Stars quick Billy Stanlake, but was able to bat although he spent the rest of the innings after his dismissal icing the injury.
Hussain wasn't so lucky later on in the game, unable to finish his ninth over when he left the field nursing what appeared to be a left leg complaint.
Khawaja's unfortunate dismissal followed two leg before wicket decisions in the Stars innings that removed West Indian import Andrew Fletcher and captain Glenn Maxwell.
Thunder debutant Tanveer Sangha snared Fletcher with just his third ball in Big Bash cricket, although the ball tracker on a later replay suggested it was spinning past leg stump.
Maxwell fell to Chris Green during the two-over power surge as the Stars threatened to produce a mammoth score, given out LBW despite the ball appearing to pitch outside leg stump.
It was a key moment in the match with Maxwell on 39 and threatening to break free and build on the platform Marcus Stoinis (61) had laid at the top of the innings.
A decision review system has the potential to significantly slow down a Big Bash innings. An hour and 20 minutes is allocated for each innings, either side of a 15-minute break, meaning a delay in play would affect a team's ability to bowl their 20 overs in that timespan.
Saturday night's match ran overtime after delays from Khawaja's wrist knock, and Hussain's bowling injury. Had there been three reviewed decisions, it would've been delayed even further.
But Khawaja, Fletcher and Maxwell would've all survived.
Fresh from Friday night's easy win over the Brisbane Heat, the Stars batted first after Maxwell won the toss and looked set for a huge score on the back of Stoinis's positive start.
He looked set for a big score after brutalising the Thunder's bowling attack early, but holed out to Daniel Sams in the deep allowing the Thunder to dig in and fight back.
With New Zealand quick Adam Milne still on ice as he nurses a hamstring niggle, Thunder coach Shane Bond opted for three front line spinners in his squad.
Sangha finished with 2-24 on debut, while Chris Green claimed two scalps himself, and leg spinner Jonathan Cook dismissed Stoinis.
Sams helped himself to two wickets in the final over as Melbourne were restricted to 8-169.
The Thunder looked on track to reel in the total early on as Alex Hales (46) and Callum Ferguson (54) put on 69 for the second wicket, but they departed in short succession and a batting collapse was triggered.
Liam Hatcher dismissed Thunder new boy Ben Cutting and Daniel Sams with successive deliveries, before Chris Green survived the hat-trick ball.
Adam Zampa then claimed ACT Comet Nathan McAndrew and Baxter Holt in successive balls in the final over of the match.
Melbourne, who have now managed two bonus point wins in two days at Manuka Oval, now depart Canberra for Tasmania where they'll continue their Big Bash campaign. The Thunder are back in action at Manuka Oval on Monday night against the Heat.
Melbourne Stars 8-169 (Stoinis 61, Maxwell 39) bt Sydney Thunder 9-147 (Ferguson 54, Hales 46, Hatcher 3-28)
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
