‘Haven’t seen anything like this in my life’: Bizarre scenes spark cricket insanity

If you thought the World Cup in India had some wild twists and turns you should come and watch a day of Sheffield Shield cricket.

Umpire Nathan Johnston confirms to Peter Handscomb of the Bushrangers he is out. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

There were wild scenes at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday as South Australia and Victoria began their final round Sheffield Shield clash.

Victorian batter Sam Harper blasted his way into the record books with a stunning century as teammate Marcus Harris missed the chance to impress selectors after he missed out with the bat.

Victoria were in all sorts early on when they slumped to 4/29.

Peter Handscomb was the fourth to go, following Harris, Travis Dean and Will Pucovski into the sheds – but not after an extended stand-off in the middle of the ground.

Handscomb edged a Brendan Doggett delivery to Redbacks skipper Jake Lehmann at third slip.

Lehmann dived to his right to take the catch and the umpire immediately raised his finger – but Handscomb wasn’t buying it.

Umpire Nathan Johnston confirms to Peter Handscomb of the Bushrangers he is out. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Commentator Julia Pitcher said: “He’s just standing there looking — he can’t believe it.

“He’s just hung the bat out there to dry Handscomb. There’s something he’s upset about.”

Former South Australian cricketer Tom Cooper said: “I don’t think he thinks it’s carried.”

But with no DRS or different angles available, there was not much hope that Handscomb could get the decision overturned.

While the Redbacks celebrated, Handscomb just stayed out in the middle.

Cooper said: “I haven’t seen anything like this happen in my life.”

Pitcher added: “Lehmann and everyone around him claimed the catch.”

“The umpires need to take control here,” Cooper said.

Peter Handscomb refused to leave after edging to the slips until being sent on his way by the umpires 😲 #SheffieldShield#PlayOfTheDaypic.twitter.com/7hs8u47tX7

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 28, 2023

And after a short discussion, Handcomb walked off, clearly fuming.

“I think they’ve given him out,” Cooper said. “It looked like it was a clean catch from here.”

Cooper said that the South Australian reaction made him believe it must have been caught.

Upon watching yet another replay, Pitcher suggested that Handscomb may have believed that Lehmann had caught the ball in the end of his fingers and scraped it along the ground.

Another replay where they took it frame by frame also raised questions.

“Oh, I think that has bounced,” Pitcher conceded. “I think Handscomb might have some basis.”

But the top order collapse only sparked further insanity – this time from Harper’s bat.

Handscomb finally conceded. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Sam Harper had a day to remember. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The wicketkeeper has shown plenty of potential with some electrifying knocks in the BBL, but this was his crowning moment.

Harper hit the third-fastest century in Sheffield Shield history, bringing up the milestone off just 64 deliveries with his sixth six.

He was 101 not out at stumps, guiding Victoria to 5/187 on a rain-shortened day. Only David Hookes – who blasted a 34-ball ton for SA against the Vics in the 1980s – and Luke Ronchi, who hit a 51-ball century for WA, have gone quicker.

Earlier, Test hopeful Marcus Harris waited more than four hours for his chance to shine as rain impacted the start of the final Sheffield Shield game before the Big Bash break and the start of the international summer.

When the rain finally cleared in Adelaide, the Victorian opener lasted just 10 balls, out for three and hoping for a big second innings and a massive recent hundred as part of his claim to replace David Warner in January.

Sam Harper celebrates bringing up his century with a pat on the head from Campbell Kellaway. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

It came as one of his rivals, Queenslander Matthew Renshaw, made a polished and unbeaten 37 against Western Australia in Brisbane before rain stalled his chase for a big score. Stumps was called early at The Gabba as rain persisted with the home team 0-67.

The duo, and WA’s Cameron Bancroft who leads all scorers in the Shield this season, will also get their chance to face the touring Pakistan attack for the PM’s XI in Canberra next week in what could be regarded as a bat-off to take the Test spot of Warner who is set to hang up his baggy green after the SCG Test in January.

In Adelaide, Harris was one of four early victims in tricky conditions, including Pucovski whose run of small scores continued. The one-Test opener, batting at number three for the Vics, contributed just 12 as four wickets fell in the first session, which didn’t start until 3pm local time.

Pucovski was coming off two single-figure scores in his previous match at the MCG, and has a highest score of just 39 in 10 Shield innings so far this season.

– with NCA NewsWire