Watch: Mitchell Starc walked off without taking a review for a caught behind decision which replays later showed as the ball clipping the stumps rather than his bat during the Australia vs Afghanistan match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today (November 7).
Chasing an ODI record of 292 at the Wankhede Stadium, Australia collapsed under the lights as Afghanistan’s bowlers chased them down one by one.
Naveen-ul-Haq removed Travis Head in the second over of the innings and fell behind from near the wicket. Mitchell Marsh and David Warner fought back for a while, but Marsh was put ahead for 24 from 11 balls in six overs.
Three overs later, Azmatullah Omarzai took two wickets in two balls and almost completed his hat-trick when Glenn Maxwell pushed the ball behind the wicket but it stopped short of the keeper. .
After the first 10 overs, Australia’s score was 52-4 and Rashid Khan was yet to bowl. Australia then lost a wicket on the first ball of the first over, albeit in the form of a run-out when Marnus Labuschagne was caught short of the crease.
Starc entered the circle at number 8 with a score of 87-6 after 16.4 overs. His short stay was eventful. First, he diverted Rashid’s inside drive into his boot, which was thrown into the air. Luckily for him, the ball touched the ground before hitting his shoe.
But on the next ball he had to take a big step back. While bowling around the wicket, Rashid (as it turned out later) hit the outside edge. Wicketkeeper Ikram Alikil took a brilliant catch on his second attempt after spilling the ball on his first attempt. Despite the on-field referee making the decision and Australia still having one review left, Starc strangely retired after briefly consulting with non-striker side Glenn Maxwell. .
Subsequent replays confirmed that no sound was heard as the ball passed the bat. Instead, the sound was heard as the ball clipped the off-stump on its way to the wicketkeeper.
Starc’s wicket pushed Australia further back to 91-7. After 25 overs, the score was 7 for his 126 and Maxwell played a single hander at one end.
Watch: Mitchell Starc out caught behind despite ball clipping the stumps
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