Australia’s miraculous comeback victory marred by controversial umpiring call

Australia pulled off a miraculous comeback on Friday evening, but not everyone was convinced they deserved the shock victory.

The controversial ending to Australia's win.

They had no Megan Schutt, no Rachael Haynes, no Tayla Vlaeminck and no Jess Jonassen.

Powerhouse batters Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry collectively scored eight runs and strike spinner Georgia Wareham left the field in the first innings without bowling a delivery.

Yet somehow, this remarkable Australian cricket team found a way to steal victory from India in Mackay.

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Australia’s record unbeaten streak extended to 26 games on Friday night as Beth Mooney guided the hosts to a thrilling, albeit controversial, five-wicket win.

The Aussies were 4-52 in the 16th over when Ash Gardner returned to the sheds, but Mooney patiently compiled a career-best 125 not out to steer them towards the 275-run target, making it the side’s second-highest successful ODI run chase of all time.

But the miraculous victory didn’t come without its drama, as an umpiring decision on what turned out to be the penultimate delivery potentially robbed the Indians of a historic win.

The Australians needed three runs with one ball remaining when Indian veteran Jhulan Goswami bowled a full toss at all-rounder Nicola Carey.

The left-hander slapped the white ball towards square leg where Yastika Bhatia grabbed the catch, and the ecstatic Indians started celebrating their triumph.

But the on-field umpires wanted to check whether the delivery had been a no-ball and after a lengthy review, third umpire Philip Gillespie decided the ball was indeed above waist height. If a ball reaches a batter above waist height on the full, it is deemed a no-ball.

With the Australians now needing two runs from one ball for a shock victory, Carey smacked the final delivery towards long on and the batters scampered through for the winning runs.

It was, as Ian Smith once famously declared, victory by the barest of margins.

Beth Mooney and Nicola Carey celebrate the miraculous win. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

They were enthralling scenes at Great Barrier Reef Arena, but not everyone was convinced Australia deserved the win.

Cricket journalist Geoff Lemon tweeted: “I don’t think that was a no-ball. It was met well in front of the batter, back leg bent, and would have dipped to waist height by the time it reached the crease.”

ESPNcricinfo writer Shashank Kishore posted: “Absolutely no problems with the no-ball call. Proper decision under pressure.”

The Age’s Daniel Brettig tweeted: “That was not a no-ball. I don’t care who says so, to be frank. India’s win. Much too marginal to be called no-ball. The fact it wasn’t called live says it all.”

No ball? Y/N#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/QP70Obgqbl

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 24, 2021

Tried to do some quick trend lines using the last three frames of the ball. Think it helps emphasise the point that it was a no-ball but regardless, a tough way for India to lose. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/btQqUYZBbY

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) September 24, 2021

The batter was out of her crease, she was bending as well and yet it was called a no ball. Frankly this will haunt us for a long time. Very tough to digest this one. @BCCIWomen

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 24, 2021

South Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath, who contributed three wickets and a career-best 74 with the bat, said her teammates were “adamant” Goswami had delivered a no-ball.

“We were sitting on the sidelines and we could see the TV in the distance and we all straight away went, ‘Nup, no ball, gotta rebowl that’,” McGrath told reporters on Saturday morning.

“We were pretty keen to get on with the game. Lucky it worked out in our favour.”

But player of the match Mooney, who had been promoted to opener in place of the injured Haynes, was less certain about the decisive moment.

“People on the sideline, they said it was a clear no-ball. I wasn’t sure,” she said. “It was a pretty tight call.”

Indian opener Smriti Mandhana said after the loss: “We haven‘t really seen the ball yet as a team. We were on the field, so on the field it’s very hard to judge if it’s a waist-high no-ball or it isn’t. It’s still too early for us to go and see and really be unhappy about it. Definitely we’ll have a look at it.”

Jhulan Goswami bowled two waist-high no balls in the final over. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

Unfortunately, Goswami’s no-ball wasn’t the only contentious umpiring decision during Friday’s run chase. In the 49th over, Carey was struck on the pad after attempting a slog sweep off tweaker Rajeshwari Gayakwad, but the umpire chose not to raise the dreaded finger despite India’s pleas.

The commentary team were left in hysterics when replays showed that Carey was absolutely plumb LBW, with Hawkeye confirming the official’s error.

Indian cricket fans were understandably disappointed with the outcome, but sloppy fielding and a second no-ball during Goswami’s final over were just as much to blame for the agonising defeat.

Australian captain Meg Lanning said after the match: “It was pretty stressful watching, but looked like Moons and Nic had it under control to be honest.

“The way the game finished was quite incredible.”

The tourists now trail the one-day series 2-0, with the third match scheduled to commence at 10.05am AEST on Sunday.