Bizarre moment umpire changes their mind mid-decision in Sixers vs Renegades WBBL game

Cricket is a cruel game at the best of times and a bizarre moment from an umpire in the WBBL made a star’s dismissal even worse.

The umpire shook his head before changing his mind.

Getting out in cricket is cruel at the best of times and that adage hit home in a bizarre moment during the WBBL match between the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades on Sunday.

Batting first, the Sixers got off to a shaky start largely as a result of the sensational bowling efforts of star Renegades import Harmanpreet Kaur.

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The Indian captain is playing her first season in the WBBL and made an immediate impact against the Sixers, claiming two prized wickets in the opening few overs.

She first dismissed Ash Gardner for seven after the Aussie star slashed at a short ball wide of off stump, edging it through to wicketkeeper Josie Dooley.

But it initially appeared as if the umpire might have given Gardner not out as he contemplated his decision in bizarre fashion.

As the Renegades appealed for the catch, the umpire was unconvinced, shaking his head several times.

It wasn’t until Kaur turned around to face him that he changed his mind, nodding and raising his finger to signal Gardner was out.

The Renegades were convinced Gardner was out.

The umpire took a while to be convinced it was out.

“Has she got an edge? No the umpire says,” commentator Jason Richardson said.

“Yes he does. I thought he did shake his head but eventually puts the finger up and Gardner’s gone and Harmranpreet Kaur gets a huge breakthrough.”

Not out ... actually wait, that is out 😅#WBBL07pic.twitter.com/lLr9zpercx

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 24, 2021

Harmanpreet VERY happy with this one! 😄#GETONRED#WBBL07pic.twitter.com/ewgwjGlZVV

— Renegades WBBL (@RenegadesWBBL) October 24, 2021

The bizarre moment bemused cricket fans, including former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who found the umpire’s indecision highly amusing.

😂😂😂 https://t.co/amhKmtlBan

— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) October 24, 2021

Some viewers speculated Gardner had a hand in the umpire changing his mind when she took a step away from the stumps, put her bat on the ground and looked dejected.

Never take a step towards the pavilion https://t.co/vGov4BtSU4

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) October 24, 2021

Dibley decision. No, no, no, no, no, no … yeah https://t.co/qHSfU8RDKj

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) October 24, 2021

Kaur’s heroics with the ball didn’t stop there. Soon after Gardner’s dismissal, she took a sharp catch off her own bowling to dismiss dangerous Sixers opener Alyssa Healy for five.

The 32-year-old is better known for her powerful batting but she produced excellent bowling figures of 2-17 off her four overs to help the Renegades’ cause immensely.

Harmanpreet Kaur was on fire with bat and ball for the Renegades. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

The Renegades restricted the Sixers to 118 and made short work of the run chase, reaching the total with three overs to spare and seven wickets in hand.

Kaur was also outstanding with the bat and piled on more pain for Gardner, smashing her for two consecutive sixes to hit the winning runs and close out the game.

With two wickets and 35 runs off 29 balls to her name, Kaur was named player of the match.