Forced to bat first by the Warriorz, Gujarat Giants got off to a solid start from their top-order, laying the foundation for a fifty-run partnership between Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner for the third wicket.
As the Australian duo picked up the pace in the final overs, a determined Healy wasn’t hesitant to opt for the DRS in search of a breakthrough. However, what unfolded during the review turned out to be an unexpected and amusing incident involving the on-field umpire.
In the 19th over’s second delivery, Sophie Ecclestone delivered a length ball that straightened after pitching around the leg stump. Batter Dayalan Hemalatha attempted a flick but missed the ball, a fact confirmed by the TV umpire replays following a review initiated by the Warriorz skipper.
Subsequently, the TV umpire noted that the ball-tracking showed the leg stump was not being hit. Despite the decision being Not Out, the third umpire Abhijeet Bengeri signaled the same to the on-field umpire Jayapal, who mistakenly signaled for a wide, despite the replay clearly indicating that the ball grazed the thigh of the right-handed batter.
— Shanaka Kundu (@KunduShanaka) March 1, 2024
Although the umpire promptly acknowledged the error with a crossed forearms gesture and apologized, the incident sparked laughter among netizens on Twitter.