The first edition of the Women’s Premier League 2023 (WPL 2023) is just around its conclusion in a day and on the verge, there is a fresh row that has arisen right from the Eliminator match-up at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on March 24 between Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz.
Anjali Sarvani’s catch to send Hayley Matthews back into the pavilion in the WPL 2023 Eliminator match between both teams was certainly overruled by the third umpire, which has now exacerbated a controversy.
In the Eliminator against UP Warriorz on Friday, Mumbai Indians played a flawless game, indeed. After Nat Sciver-punishing Brunt’s 38-ball 72, Isabelle Wong (4/15) notched the first hat-trick of the WPL as Mumbai Indians stormed past UP Warriorz by 72 runs to advance to the finals.
Anjali Sarvani of UP was poised to make another breakthrough when she caught MI opener Hayley Matthews off Deepti Sharma in the ninth over after dismissing Yastika Bhatia in the fifth over.
Sarvani appeared to be taking a fantastic-but-shocking catch of Matthews on Deepti’s first delivery of the over when she dove forward spectacularly at the long leg and completed a brilliant low catch.
The third umpire deemed that the ball had in fact touched the ground. But, on the contrary and to the naked eye, the ball surely appeared to be tumbling out of Sarvani’s hands, but it was not obviously touching the grass even.
That was a questionable decision that ignited a heated debate on social media. Many disagreed with the third umpire’s judgement, believing that the wicket should have been granted.
“I think we might have a discussion on that because all of us thought the fingers were underneath this, plucked clean,” remarked Harsha Bhogle during commentary and went on to add, “I am not the third umpire, so it doesn’t matter, but my view was that it probably never touched (the ground) at all.
WPL 2023 – Here are the fan reactions that surfaced on Twitter:
ICYMI!
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 24, 2023
Close call near the ropes but a sensational fielding effort by Anjali Sarvani in the outfield👏👏#TATAWPL | #Eliminator | #MIvUPW
Check it out 🎥🔽https://t.co/VZ2anMBg3f
How was that not out ???? Such a clean catch . Shocker of a decision . #wpl
— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9) March 24, 2023
We now need a DRS to review the third umpire's decisions 😂 https://t.co/qnBpxoz44d
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 24, 2023
#WPL2023 #Eliminator
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 24, 2023
One of the leading catchers of the tournament thinks she has pulled off a really impressive catch in the outfield. But the third umpire thinks otherwise..
Did it even touch the ground? I don't think so. Bizarre decision.https://t.co/KPTfuQ0MPM pic.twitter.com/fdxgOnvvhl
Anjali Sarvani takes a low catch in the deep but the TV umpire given NOT OUT. Matthews survives!
— Cricket Chamber (@cricketchamber) March 24, 2023
📷: JioCinema#MIvUPW #MIvUPW #WPL2023 #HayleyMatthews #WPL23 #T20Cricket #AnjaliSarvani pic.twitter.com/boNKEyvdWX
Talking of the game, Mumbai Indians dismantled the UP Warriorz’s tenacious top and middle order after setting a tough 183-run target. Wong’s outstanding hat-trick in the 13th over helped her team win the match, extensively.
Alyssa Healy (11) and an on-song Kiran Navgire (43), both of whom were dangerous, were dismissed early by Wong. She then wiped up Simran Sheikh (0) and Sophie Ecclestone (0), taking one wicket each on the second, third, and fourth deliveries of her third over to record a match-winning effort. In 17.4 overs, UP Warriorz were dismissed for just 110 runs.
Alyssa Healy said after the game: “We catch Sciver on 6, the game could be ours. We went with our strength, backed ourselves with ball in hand. We were just outplayed tonight, especially with the bat. Can’t comment too much, will probably be fined (the catch from Anjali that was given not out). Anjali claimed it, and it looked good in real time.
Our strength in this whole tournament has been we’ve hung in there. We haven’t played our best cricket a lot of the time. I’m really proud of this group. Not many people were talking about the UP Warriors (as favourites). The two best teams have made it to the final. I’m proud of our group to have a crack. I think for our group – it wasn’t necessarily about winning the trophy in year one. Would’ve been nice, don’t get me wrong and that’s what we were trying to do. We wanted to lift the trophy on Sunday.
But it’s not all about that. What we’ve got at this franchise is something special, and I think we can build on over the next few years. I’m sure we’ll sit back and review the season we’ve had and some areas we’ll need to fix up or get a player to fill a gap. There’s so many talented players in our group and Kiran is one of them. Hits the ball for fun and hits the ball a long way. I’m looking forward to what she can do in Indian colours in the near future.”
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