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BBL rocked by no-ball drama as Adelaide Strikers make incredible history

The Adelaide Strikers produced the highest run chase in BBL history to beat the Hobart Hurricanes, but not without controversy.

Matthew Wade, pictured here fuming at the umpires after a controversial no-ball call in the BBL.
Matthew Wade was fuming at the umpires after a controversial no-ball call in the BBL. Image: Channel 7

The Adelaide Strikers have stunned the cricket world after producing the highest run chase in BBL history to beat the Hobart Hurricanes. However Hurricanes fans were left seething over a late no-ball call that proved hugely influential.

Matt Short celebrated his captaincy debut for the Strikers with a maiden T20 century to help his side pull off the greatest run chase in BBL history. After the Hurricanes posted 4-229 while batting first at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, Short blasted 100 not out off 59 balls to secure victory with three balls to spare.

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Needing 12 off the final over, the opener crunched Pakistan paceman Faheem Ashraf for back-to-back boundaries to bring up his ton and make history for the Strikers. It marked the highest run chase ever seen in the BBL.

However the enthralling finish was marred by controversy when English import Adam Hose holed out to Tim David in the deep but was given a reprieve. Umpires deemed the delivery a no-ball for a waist-high full toss, with replays showing it to be an incredibly tight call.

Instead of being dismissed for 20, Hose smashed a six off the subsequent free hit and went on to make a vital 38. Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade furiously remonstrated with the umpires, while fellow English import Zak Crawley said he didn't think it was a no-ball.

"I didn't think it was a no-ball because his (Hose's) back leg was bent," Crawley said afterwards. "It was above waist-height so I could understand why they gave it, but I felt he was crouched."

Under the laws of the game, a waist-high no-ball is determined by the batter's normal stance rather than the position they are in while hitting the ball. Hurricanes fans vented their frustrations on social media, with many also pointing out that Hose appeared to be crouching down when the ball got to him.

However plenty of others agreed with the umpires, as was the extremely tight nature of the call.

Matt Short's incredible display to make BBL history

After the Strikers lost Ryan Gibson for just five early, Short and Chris Lynn (64) added 124 off 58 balls for the second wicket to give Adelaide a sniff of making history. Lynn continued his brutal form this season, blasting four sixes in his 29-ball knock before falling to spinner Paddy Dooley (2-25) during the power surge.

Short received two lifelines off Riley Meredith's bowling - dropped by Mitch Owen first ball and a sitter by Nathan Ellis on 22. He made the Hurricanes pay for the blunders.

"Going into half-time, the boys were a little bit flat," Short said. "A fifth loss in a row would have been pretty poor, but we stuck at it.

"Once we got it to a run-a-ball, four off four, I was pretty confident. That's going to give us a heap of confidence."

Matt Short, pictured here after bringing up his century and victory for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL.
Matt Short celebrates after bringing up his century and victory for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes' loss was compounded by a nasty injury to Dooley after he hurt his shoulder while diving to save a boundary in the 19th over. Ben McDermott (57), Caleb Jewell (54) and Crawley (54 not out) all made half-centuries as the Hurricanes scored their highest total ever.

"The lads are a bit hurt," Crawley said. "We thought 229 was enough ... we knew it was a good track and we knew they were going to come hard.

"Disappointed but an unbelievable game. I loved it out there."

with AAP

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