The Sri Lanka-Australia clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium presented an opportunity for at least one of the teams to secure their first victory in the tournament, having suffered two losses each at the start.
However, trouble loomed for the Australian team right from the beginning when Pat Cummins and his colleagues opted for a review on the first ball of the match, hoping for an LBW decision, despite a clear edge and the ball missing the stumps.
To add to their woes, this desperate call would come back to haunt them a few overs later, allowing the formidable opening partnership of the Sri Lankan team to remain intact. The partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera was nearing the half-century mark as Glenn Maxwell prepared for his second over to conclude the powerplay.
The off-spinner displayed excellent discipline and reaped the rewards on the fourth ball when a quicker delivery skidding into Perera’s legs left him stranded on the crease, resulting in a resounding impact on the pads.
Maxwell, along with his teammates, appealed vigorously, but the umpire remained unmoved. Surprisingly, there was little discussion among the Australian players about the possibility of a DRS (Decision Review System) referral. The captain simply dismissed any thoughts of a review, as they had only one review left after their earlier blunder on the first ball.
— Ishan Martinez (@IshanMarti66419) October 16, 2023
— Ishan Martinez (@IshanMarti66419) October 16, 2023
Replays later confirmed that the ball not only hit the batsman in line but was also on course to crash into the stumps. The disappointment was evident on Maxwell’s face as the cameras captured the moment. Twitter users were quick to express their criticism of the Australian team, accusing them of succumbing to pressure and not focusing on the game at hand.
