Watch, WBBL | Confusion prevails after match called off with victory in sight for Sydney Thunder

‌After the first game in Adelaide was washed off and rain forced the second to be shortened, Sydney Thunder were in the driver’s seat against Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League on Friday. Chasing 46 in five overs, the visitors were well-placed at 43/0 at Adelaide Oval with just three needed from the last 13 balls.

But just as the final ball of the third over was about to be bowled, the umpires had a chat and decided to call the game off, asking the players to leave the field amid a steady drizzle. But the rains were always there, and was falling down the same way as it had when the chase started, creating confusion around the decision.

Captain Phoebe Litchfield, who did the bulk of the scoring for the Thunder with eight boundaries in her 15-ball 38, was stunned as the umpires put the bails down before progressing towards the pavilion. She took a while to gather herself back before walking across to shake hands with the opponents.

The reaction from the visitors’ dugout was pretty much the same, with the players and support staff equally confused on the timing of the call-off. The fact that even Strikers’ coach Luke Williams walked to the boundary ropes to understand why the players were walking back summed up the scene pretty much.

It was a farcical finish to an exciting contest, with Thunder walking away with the feeling of being robbed of a crucial point.

What was that!