Adelaide skipper Ingram calls Pattinson back after replays show Heat star had made his ground
Monday 24 December 2018 08:35, UK
The 2018-19 Big Bash League began in dramatic fashion with a withdrawn run-out appeal and the highest score by a No 11 in T20 cricket!
Defending champions Adelaide Strikers beat Brisbane Heat by five wickets in the season opener, with their opener, Alex Carey, striking an unbeaten 70 from 46 balls at the Gabba to see the visitors past Heat's 146 all out with five balls to spare. SCORECARD | COMMENTARY
But that only tells half the story!
After winning the bat flip, which is being used instead of the traditional coin toss in this season, Adelaide reduced Heat to 92-6 - and then appealed to have James Pattinson run out.
Australia seamer Pattinson looked to have made his ground as wicketkeeper Carey whipped off the bails following Peter Siddle's throw, something that was then made clear by a big-screen replay.
So when TV umpire Greg Davidson gave Pattinson out, Strikers skipper Colin Ingram withdrew the appeal, later confirming that team-mate Ben Laughlin had suggested the idea.
"It was a unique scenario," Ingram told Fox Sports. "I ended up chatting with Benny Laughlin, and he said what is the option with withdrawing the appeal, so the initial idea came from him.
"We can all clearly see it wasn't out. We've got to back what we saw and most of our boys were happy and just wanted to get on with the game."
Pattinson was stumped by Carey in the following over before Heat slipped to 101-9 as Rashid Khan picked up 3-19 - only for Rashid's fellow Afghanistan international Mujeeb Ur Rahman to blast the highest score by a No 11 in a T20 game, with 27 from 22 balls.
Mujeeb, who had never made more than 16 in his previous 28 innings in professional cricket, put on 45 with Jimmy Peirson (24no off 13).
But that was to no avail due to Carey's knock - although the Strikers man did admit that he had nicked leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson behind when he was given not out on 51.
