In an unprecedented incident during the Women’s Big Bash League match number 49, Brisbane Heat were penalized five runs after Amelia Kerr caught the ball with a towel in her hands. The incident occurred during the 10th over of Sydney Sixer’s chase when Ashleigh Gardner drove a delivery from Kerr down the ground for a single. The fielder at long-on threw the ball at the bowler’s end, and Kerr, in an attempt to make a catch, grabbed the ball with a towel in her hand.
The on-field umpire, Joshua Adie, promptly noticed the infringement and slapped the Heat with five penalty runs. This unexpected turn of events left the Sixers needing only 103 runs to win from 10.5 overs.
The video of this bizarre incident was shared on the official social media handle of FanCode, sparking discussions among cricket enthusiasts.
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Despite the penalty, Kerr struggled with the ball throughout the innings, conceding 39 runs in 3 overs without taking a wicket. Georgia Voll (2/29) and captain Jess Jonassen (2/26) were the Heat’s most successful bowlers, but their efforts were insufficient to prevent the Sixers from securing victory.
Today we learned: Catching a ball with a towel results in a 5-run penalty 😳#WBBLonFanCode #WBBL pic.twitter.com/PgLIvrJRHK
— FanCode (@FanCode) November 21, 2023
Chasing 177, Ashleigh Gardner top-scored with a blistering 36 off 30 balls, including two boundaries. Erin Burns also contributed a quick-fire 35, smashing three sixes and two boundaries during her 20-ball stay at the crease. Mathilda Carmichael (28* off 20) and Maitlan Brown (21* off 15) stitched an unbeaten 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding the Sixers to a comfortable six-wicket win at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
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This victory propelled the Sixers to the fifth spot on the points table with 12 points and a net run rate of -0.362. On the other hand, the Heat remain fourth with 14 points and a net run rate of 0.134. Both teams have one match remaining in the league stage and are still very much in contention for a playoff berth.
