Jamie Overton fumes at umpire call, Ben McDermott magic lifts Hurricanes past Strikers

Adelaide were left fuming over a costly umpire error in their dramatic defeat to Hobart - with Strikers star Jamie Overton enraged by the critical call. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS.

Star Adelaide Strikers allrounder Jamie Overton was left fuming by an umpiring error, labeled as “ridiculous” by skipper Matt Short, at a critical moment late in an 11-run loss to the Hobart Hurricanes that left the Strikers with just one win after four games.

Chasing an imposing target of 215, the Strikers needed 31 runs from the last over at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with Overton incensed after he felt he was robbed of a no-ball call and a free hit that would have improved the Strikers’ chances of pulling off a stunning win.

With the Hurricanes two overs behind when the innings timer expired, Riley Meredith had started his run-up ahead of his first delivery when umpire Sharad Patel halted play and warned the Hurricanes for a second time that they hadn’t brought an extra fielder inside the circle, which is the penalty when BBL over rate requirements aren’t met.

Overton can be seen intently counting fielders as Meredith approached the top of his mark and the Englishman blew up when the Hobart quick was halted on his run by the umpire.

“Oi! What are you doing?” an agitated Overton can be heard yelling on the Fox Cricket broadcast as he advanced down the pitch.

“You’ve told them already, so you can’t tell them again!”

Australian cricket great Michael Hussey explained the situation in Fox Cricket commentary.

“Overton is really unhappy here because the umpire told them they had to have the extra man inside the circle … he’s really upset,” Hussey said.

“The umpire shouldn’t have told them twice because if they did have the extra man out it would’ve been a no-ball … that’s why he’s so upset.

“He wanted the first ball to be called a no-ball so he could get an extra ball plus the free hit.”

If Meredith had bowled his first ball without the required number of fielders inside the circle it would have been deemed a no-ball and Overton would have received a free hit.

If the in-form power hitter had dispatched the free hit for six, the home side would have needed 24 runs off six balls to win; still a tall order but certainly an improved situation.

Jamie Overton nearly pulled off a miracle against the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty

A fuming Overton repeatedly shook his head in displeasure after he belted Meredith’s first ball for a boundary then sent the next for six.

He found the boundary once more in a tumultuous over where he was given out, caught by Chris Jordan, only for the decision to be overturned upon review, and had a potential waist-high no-ball call go against him.

Strikers skipper Matt Short, who returned to form with a half-century that got the run chase off to a flyer, shared Overton’s displeasure at the umpire’s actions.

“That’s a bit ridiculous if the umpire is stepping in trying to set the field,” Short said.

“Jamie would be saying ‘Let’s just keep the five out and get the no-ball’ … the captains are there to set the field, not the umpires.

“I’m sure they would have told (Hurricanes skipper) Nathan Ellis that he could only have four (fielders) out.

“They still had five (outside the circle) so I’m not sure why the umpire was changing the field.”

Overton (R) has a chat with Hurricanes star Tim David. Picture: Getty

EARLIER: MCDERMOTT MAGIC LIFTS CANES PAST STRIKERS IN THRILLER

A superb unbeaten half-century to Ben McDermott propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to an impressive 11-run win against the Adelaide Strikers, who started their run chase brightly but couldn’t reel in a mammoth target.

The Hurricanes were 3-89 in the 10th over on Friday night, but McDermott stepped up to club the ball to all parts of Adelaide Oval to fire his side to 5-214 from their 20 overs after being sent in.

A Matt Short half-century was the centrepiece of a blazing start to the run chase, but his departure saw the visitors wrest the momentum.

Ben McDermott propelled the Hurricanes to a handsome victory. Picture: Getty

Needing 31 runs from the last over, Jamie Overton offered faint hope with a four and a six off the first two deliveries, but couldn’t find the boundary again.

Earlier, McDermott blazed his way to an entertaining 68 from just 34 balls in an innings that included three boundaries and five towering sixes.

The power hitter shared a quickfire 54-run partnership with Tim David, who blasted 33 runs from 14 balls as the visitors belted 88 runs from the last six overs of their innings to set the imposing target.

The result left Adelaide with a 1-3 record, while the Hurricanes improved to 2-1.

ELATED ELLIS

A key moment in the game came in the 12th over with Matt Short’s departure.

Having raced to 52 from 29 balls, with three boundaries and four sixes, the Strikers skipper went after Waqar Salamkheil but sent the ball soaring high into the Adelaide sky.

Running backwards from inside the circle, Nathan Ellis threw himself back to barely grasp the ball only for it to bobble loose when he thumped into the turf.

The Hurricanes skipper showed great composure under pressure to regain control of the ball after it bounced on his chest to complete a spectacular catch to his great delight.

The Strikers needed 91 from 50 balls when Short was dismissed, but managed 25 runs in the next three overs, including a Power Surge, the home side scoring just 18 runs with the field up.

Nathan Ellis celebrates after holding on for a catch to dismiss Matt Short. Getty Images

POWER STARTS

The Hurricanes got off to their best start of the season with 1-43 from their Power Play despite losing in-form opener Mitch Owen in an eventful first over.

Fresh from his maiden Big Bash century in a win against the Perth Scorchers, Owen belted

back-to-back boundaries and looked to put Matt Short’s fourth ball into the stands but succeeded only in picking out Overton at long on.

Facing the imposing target, Matt and D’Arcy Short got the run chase off to a flyer at 0-49 after their first four overs.

D’Arcy raced to 23 from 13 balls, with four boundaries, while Matt had 22 runs from 11, with a boundary and two sixes, and also included his 2000th Big Bash run.

The blazing opening partnership was broken in the seventh over when D’Arcy Short was caught in the deep off the bowling of Billy Stanlake.

Originally published as Jamie Overton fumes at umpire call, Ben McDermott magic lifts Hurricanes past Strikers