BBL 2019 | Melbourne Renegades Vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium
Umpire Greg Davidson has pulled one of the great umpiring tricks on Rashid Khan on one of the more bizarre nights in BBL history.
The Adelaide Strikers are still the only undefeated team left in the BBL this season after the Melbourne Renegades capitulated to an 18 run loss at Marvel Stadium.
The Renegades had the game well in hand but three wickets in the 12th over changed the match with the defending champs staring down an early finish to their BBL campaign.
But a hilarious moment had stolen the spotlight late in the game.
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Umpire Greg Davidson has pulled the classic umpiring trick out on one of the biggest stages in Australian domestic cricket.
As Rashid Khan continued his masterclass with 2/15 off four overs, a ball hit Beau Webster with the ball smacking into the pads.
He started to give him out but realised there was an inside edge, bailing to scratch his nose.
Cameron White was on the mic and said he probably changed his mind as it was going on.
"The old itchy nose, at least he got it right I guess," White said. "He just said someone told him there was a noise and also that he had a bit of an itchy nose."
But Khan had already turned around and was celebrating the wicket.
The commentators were laughing about the moment but it seemed to shock the Strikers.
Man of the match Rashid Khan said he didn't know how it wasn't given out but saw on the replay that Davidson had changed his mind.
Davidson told Fox Cricket he changed his mind on a gut feeling as he was putting the finger up.
Social media was quick to react.
That’s all-time umpiring. Incredible. You’d be filthy if that happened in the backyard. #BBL09
— Nick McGrath (@nickmcgrath4) December 29, 2019
Did the umpire really just start to give that out and then rub his nose? #BBL09
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 29, 2019
Great feint from the umpire there, the old "go to give it out then scratch the nose" trick! #BBL09 #BBL2019
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 29, 2019
But it wasn't a moment that changed the match - that came in the 12th over.
After calling for the tactical timeout, the Renegades went from 2/88 to 5/89 with Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris and Dan Christian all dismissed.
Finch had just passed 50 when a brain snap saw the Australian white ball captain fall well short of his ground.
What was Aaron Finch thinking here?! 😨 #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/zjmEFRsdeU
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 29, 2019
But it was about to get worse with the next ball, Marcus Harris was caught on the boundary.
"What is going on with the Renegades," Mel Jones asked.
"I'll tell you what's going on Mel," Michael Vaughan said. "This is dumb, this is dumb, this doesn't get any dumber. The last two balls, what we've seen, kids out there, don't copy this."
Dan Christian was then caught short, with the Renegades losing three wickets in the one bizarre over.
The Strikers set 6/155 on the back of opening batsman Philip Salt with a 26-ball 55 while 41 off 37 balls for Alex Carey took him to the top of the BBL batting charts.
Originally published as BBL 2019 | Melbourne Renegades Vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium