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The Big Bash League (BBL) encounter between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers came to a dramatic end. Sixers batter felt hard done by as alleged ultraedge malfunction led to his wicket off the fourth delivery of the last over in the run chase.
Silk tried to get bat on the short delivery outside off bowled by Stars' bowler Luke Wood. The bowler and Stars fielders appealed but the on-field umpire turned it down. Stars skipper Adam Zampa went for the review and the ultraedge showed a spike as the ball passed the bat.
Silk was given out but from one angle it showed that the ball was far from bat but the ultraedge showed a spike anyway. Silk walked off the ground but was unhappy with the bizarre decision.
Sixers still needed two runs to win from the final two deliveries and set batter James Vince was off strike. However, the game went in Sixers favour as veteran all-rounder Dan Christian hit a boundary off the penultimate delivery to help his side win the game by six wickets.
“[I] didn't strike many tonight so was happy to get one off the middle. Definitely heard a noise as it went past the bat. Front-on camera showed there was a big gap between bat and ball. Was a bizarre moment. Initially thought I was out seeing the snicko but then saw the gap from the other angles while walking off,” the 30-year-old Sixers batter said after his team’s win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The incident raises questions on the ultraedge technology used in the league. The decision could have turned the game upside down if not for Christian’s first-ball boundary.
In the run chase of 174, England batter Vince played the anchor role. Opening the innings with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe, Vince scored an unbeaten 91 off 59 deliveries including nine fours and two sixes. He shared crucial partnerships with Daniel Hughes, skipper Moises Henriques and Silk to get his side over the line.
