KHAWAJA CRANKY AT UMPIRE BLUNDER
AS Australia’s top batsmen drop like flies on the eve of the Test summer against India, Usman Khawaja’s bid to resurrect his international career wasn’t helped by a “howler” during the Thunder’s loss to the Stars in Canberra.
Set 170, the Thunder got off to a flying start, but their chase took a blow when umpire Phil Gillespie gave Khawaja out caught behind as he attempted a lap-sweep off Pakistan quick Dilbar Hussain. Khawaja (seven) death-stared Gillespie, before making the long walk back to the sheds.
His dismissal – the third umpiring mistake of the afternoon – sparked a long discussion on why the Big Bash must reintroduce the DRS, with Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist leading the calls for the tournament to use the technology on offer.
Earlier, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis made up for his duck the night before by belting 61 off 37 to set-up the Stars’ second victory in as many days, sharing a 56-run, secondwicket stand with Glenn Maxwell (39).
English international opener Alex Hales (46 off 41) and first-drop Callum Ferguson (54 off 35) put them on track, but the latter’s exit proved too much as the Stars won by 22 runs.
Adam Zampa’s (2-10 off four overs) class shone again as he piled on the pressure with dot after dot, while Australian cricket also saw the emergence of another young exciting leg-spinner, Australia under-19s leggie Tanveer Sangha, who took a wicket with his third delivery and finished with 2-26 for the Thunder.