Adelaide Strikers captain Matt Short has slammed the “ridiculous” decision by the on-field umpires to help the Hobart Hurricanes avoid a no-ball for a fielding restriction breach in the last over of Friday night’s BBL clash . The Hurricanes were two overs behind when the innings clock, introduced before the 2022-23 season, ticked past the 79 minutes allotted, which meant they were restricted to a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the 20th over of the Strikers’ run chase at Adelaide Oval . MATCH CENTRE: All the stats from the Hurricanes’ win over Adelaide .
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Hard-hitting Englishman Jamie Overton was on strike for Adelaide and demonstrated his displeasure in animated fashion at umpire Sharad Patel, who twice reminded Hobart captain Nathan Ellis to bring in one of his five boundary riders. If the umpire hadn’t intervened and Ellis still had five fielders out, the ‘Canes would have been penalised with a no-ball and Overton would have had a free hit off the next ball, plus six more deliveries still to come. “That’s a bit ridiculous if the umpire is stepping in trying to set the field,” Short said following his side’s 11-run loss.
“I thought Jamie was the one going to the umpire saying they’ve only got four (fielders) out. “But if it was the umpire, then I think that’s ridiculous.” The Strikers required an unlikely, but not mathematically impossible, 31 to win off the final over bow.
