Melbourne Stars fell victim to the WBBL’s lack of umpire technology for selected matches after they were beaten in the final over by Adelaide Strikers

AAP24-Oct-2023The inconsistencies in Cricket Australia’s use of technology in the WBBL have been highlighted after a bizarre stumping cost Melbourne Stars in their tight final-over loss to Adelaide Strikers at Junction Oval.In a tense finish, Adelaide chased down Melbourne’s 133 for 6 with two balls and four wickets in hand. But the match was not without drama.During Stars innings earlier in the day, batter Rhys McKenna was given out stumped for 14 when a ball from Megan Schutt thudded into wicketkeeper Bridget Patterson’s pads and rebounded on to the stumps.McKenna was clearly in her ground at the time the ball hit the stumps before the right-hander briefly took off for a run afterwards. Despite this, McKenna was given out stumped by the square-leg umpire on the field and there was TV referral available.The WBBL introduced third umpires and the decision review system last season for the first time. However, it is only in place for the 24 matches televised on free-to-air. Tuesday afternoon’s match was a streamed fixture and therefore had no video replay technology in place, despite replays clearly showing McKenna should not have been out.Big Bash officials currently have plans in place for an additional 10 games to have video technology in place next year, with a goal of increasing that number further in the future.McKenna’s wicket came at a crucial time with the score at 91 for 4 in the 15th over, after she had hit 14 off five balls and threatened to rebuild Stars’ innings from an early collapse.English allrounder Alice Capsey was out stumped in similar fashion off Patterson’s pads for 25 in the over prior to McKenna’s dismissal, only this time she was out of her crease.Maia Bouchier also helped keep Stars’ innings together with 48, before being bowled by Schutt in the 19th over. Schutt finished with 2 for 27.In reply, Katie Mack made 48 from 39 balls, before the Strikers survived a late wobble to take the victory.Strikers’ win is their second over the Stars in five days after they bowled out Stars for 29 last Friday in Adelaide.