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.
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 bowled by Hobart paceman Riley Meredith.
Overton still managed to club 19, but it wasn't enough to reel in the Hurricanes' imposing 5-214, the highest total by any team this season.
"If it was (up to) Jamie, he'd just be saying keep the five out and get the no-ball," Short said.
"The captain is there to set the field, not the umpires.
"I'm sure they would have told Nathan Ellis you can only have four out.
"I think the bowler and 'Nelly' (Ellis) knew you could only have four out, but they still had five.
"I'm not sure why the umpire was changing the field."
Hobart wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott, adjudged player of the match for his unbeaten 68, was behind Overton when the drama unfolded, but he was more concerned about avoiding a last-over disaster.
"I'm not really sure what happened there, but I think he (Overton) was disgruntled that we were getting told that we needed another fielder in," he said.
"I don't really know, so it's hard to say.
"I just wanted to close out the over and get the win."
