The Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder game was marred by a controversial moment involving New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan in the Big Bash League encounter at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Bowling the fourth ball of the 18th over, McClenaghan came round the wicket to Jake Lehmann, the son of Australian cricket team coach Darren Lehmann. The New Zealand left-arm pacer fired a full and wide delivery outside off as Lehmann looked to ramp it over fine leg. The bottom edge flew towards short cover and McClenaghan attempted to catch the delivery off his bowling.
However, as McClenaghan started to run, he collided with non-striker Jono Dean. He recovered but dropped the catch. McClenaghan was furious and he appealed for obstructing the field but the umpire gave it not out. Adelaide Strikers smashed 23 runs in the last two overs to end up on 163/6.
{{/usCountry}}However, as McClenaghan started to run, he collided with non-striker Jono Dean. He recovered but dropped the catch. McClenaghan was furious and he appealed for obstructing the field but the umpire gave it not out. Adelaide Strikers smashed 23 runs in the last two overs to end up on 163/6.
{{/usCountry}}In addition to the McClenaghan incident, there was one more off-field event that had the players worried. In the eighth over of the Adelaide Strikers innings bowled by Arjun Nair, Alex Carey, a left-handed batsman, slog swept a full ball into the stands at deep mid wicket and it injured a young boy. Play was held up for a couple of minutes as the youngster was being attended to. Towards the end of the innings, it was reported that the young boy was fine.
In response, Sydney Thunder reached 69/2 but they were undone by some fine bowling from Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan (2/22) and Ben Laughlin (4/26) as they were bowled out for 110 to lose by 53 runs. Rashid, who became the first Afghanistan player to feature in the Big Bash League, won the Player of the Match.