FARCICAL! Umpiring Controversy in WBBL As Game Called Off With 3 Runs Needed

The 2025 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) clash between Adelaide Strikers Women and Sydney Thunder Women witnessed one of the most dumbfounding officiating calls in history as the on-field umpires called off the game with the Thunder Women within three runs of a win. 

Heavy rains in Adelaide reduced the clash to a five-over contest, and the Strikers Women posted 45/2 in their quota of 30 balls. There was steady drizzle throughout the chase, but the Thunder Women wasted no time in getting to the target as they got to 43/0 in just 2.5 overs, needing 3 runs to win off 13 balls with 10 wickets in hand. 

However, it was at this point that the on-field umpires Eloise Sheridan and Stephen Dionysius made a dumbfounding call as they chose to abandon the game with the Thunder Women effectively a strike away from victory. What made the call all the more farcical was the fact that the rain was not pelting down heavily, with the drizzle being consistently mild. 

Nooooo way!

In a five-over game, the Thunder needed three more runs to win off 13 balls...

And umpires call for the covers with rain no heavier than it had been in the previous 15 minutes, per @TheoDrop.

Game called off, no result 🫣#WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/b24oi9XmsF

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 28, 2025

The Thunder batters Georgia Voll and captain Phoebe Litchfield surprisingly were calm and did not show any signs of anger or frustration, but the dugout could not believe the officials’ decision. 

The call denied seventh-placed Thunder a crucial point as they had to settle for just one point instead of two. Had they secured the win, they would have been level on points with the Strikers.