In one of the most controversial endings to a Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers encounter in WBBL, the umpires called off play just when the Thunder were poised for an incredible win. Though there was consistent rain during the chase, Sydney Thunder required only three runs to win when the match was suddenly called off at Adelaide Oval.
Blistering Start by Thunder
The target set was 46 runs from five overs, and the Thunder reply was explosive. Phoebe Litchfield led the assault, an unbeaten 38 off 15 balls, powering the side to 43 without loss after 2.5 overs.
At that point, the rain had been falling steadily for almost fifteen minutes, yet play was still going on, until officials suddenly deemed the conditions unsafe.
Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers: Players React to the Shock Decision
Litchfield sounded thoroughly frustrated in her post-match interview.
“Disappointed… It’s a shame. It’s pretty disappointing,” she told Fox Sports.
The Strikers’ captain, Tahlia McGrath, didn’t dispute the difficulty of the decision but still struggled to fathom the umpires’ call, stating that the rain had eased but “the ball was slippery”.
Dominant Batting Display Before the Stoppage
The 13 runs in the opening over had set the tone, notwithstanding the dampness, for a thrilling Thunder chase. Litchfield then went after Darcie Brown, collecting four successive boundaries, without quite clearing a fifth as a thumping drive fell metres short of the rope.
Another four through an empty slips area saw Brown’s over disappear for 22 runs. Sydney Thunder had reached 35/0 after two overs, facing only five more balls before the match was controversially brought to a halt.
Strikers’ Innings: Wolvaardt Leads the Charge
Earlier, the Adelaide Strikers made 45 for 2 from their five overs. Laura Wolvaardt provided a quickfire 22 off 13 that included a six and two fours. Tahlia McGrath contributed a handy 12 not out off six deliveries. Thunder spread the bowling workload across five bowlers with Shabnim Ismail picking up 1/6 and Lucy Finn contributing with 1/12.
Additional Weather Impact The day’s earlier game, the scheduled clash between Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat, was also abandoned because of persistent rain rounding off a heavily weather-affected double header.
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