Amy Sattherthwaite
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 03: Amy Satterthwaite and Jess Cameron celebrate hitting the winning runs on the final ball in a super over during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Sixers at Simonds Stadium on January 3, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour - CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

In a rare turn of events in the women’s Big Bash League, Melbourne Renegades were denied victory in normal time as they celebrated before the ball was declared dead.

The Renegades faced Sydney Sixers in the 25th match of the league. Melbourne won the toss and chose to bat first. Renegades scored 120/7 in the 20 overs as their skipper Amy Satterthwaite was the top scorer with 44 in 44 balls.

Melbourne Renegades
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 03: Amy Satterthwaite of the Renegades attempts to perform a run out on the final ball of the Sixers first innings which resulted in a super over during the Women’s Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Sixers at Simonds Stadium on January 3, 2018, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

The top order failed but the lower order took the responsibility as Emma Inglis combined with the captain to take the team to a respectable total of 120 runs. For the Sixers, Dane Van Niekerk picked up two wickets while star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who got a recognition from ICC, and Ashleigh Gardner picked up one wicket each.

Ellyse Perry
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 03: Ellyse Perry of the Sixers bats during the Women’s Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Sixers at Simonds Stadium on January 3, 2018, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

While chasing, Alyssa Healy and skipper Perry started well and were involved in a 33 runs opening stand with healing falling on 25. Perry played a captain’s knock and scored 37 runs, and Erin Burns also played a good knock of 20 in the lower order.

WBBL 2017/18: Last Ball Chaos Helps Sydney Sixers Take the Match to Super Over
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 03: Amy Satterthwaite of the Renegades attempts to perform a run out on the final ball of the Sixers first innings which resulted in a super over during the Women’s Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Sixers at Simonds Stadium on January 3, 2018, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

Sixers needed three runs off the last ball with Angela Reakes, and Sarah Aley were the two batswomen at the crease. Aley faced the final delivery of the innings bowled by Renegades captain Satterthwaite. Aley played the ball towards fine leg, and the fielder threw the ball to the keeper. Renegades keeper Inglis failed to remove the bails and threw the ball up into the air and started celebrating. The two batters stole another run as the ball was not declared dead. Amy Satterthwaite realised that the ball was not dead, but it was too late for her as the two batters completed another run and the match was tied.

Thankfully the Renegades managed to win the match in the super over, but the last ball chaos overshadowed the match. After the match, Renegades skipper Satherwaite said that the last ball chaos was a learning experience for her and her team:

“It was an interesting moment, We learnt what it means for the ball to be dead, so that was a learning moment for us. But at the end of the day the umpires made the decison and we had to move on from that and focus on the Super Over and get our emotions ready for that.” 

Under the Laws of Cricket (section 20.1.1.1), the ball is considered dead “when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper or of the bowler” but whether it is finally settled or not is “a matter for the umpire alone to decide” (section 20.2).

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