Watch: Confusion Erupts as On-Field Umpire Signals Wrong Decision After DRS Review During AUS-W vs SA-W ODI

A hilarious incident involving an on-field umpire transpired during the second ODI match between Australia Women and South Africa Women on Wednesday at the North Sydney Oval. It happened due to confusion between the ground and the television umpires following a review.

Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner hit the pads of Sune Luus, who tried to sweep but missed the line, as the bowler made a big appeal for LBW.

Umpire Claire Polosak, who was at the non-striker’s end, was not quite convinced that the ball had hit the stump as she immediately gave her decision in South Africa’s favour.

The Australian side, however, seemed confident that the ball was in the line of the stumps. They opted for the DRS (Decision Review System), referring the decision to the TV umpire Sue Redfern, who went on to give it a second check. The replay showed that the ball had pitched way out of the off-stump and would clearly miss the wickets.

“Pitching outside off, impact outside. Back to Claire on the field, please. Stay with not out. Stand by. Signal not out now,” Redfern told Polosak. That’s when the on-field umpire got baffled as she mistakenly raised her finger, giving it out. Polosak, however, was quick to rectify her error and changed her signal with an awkward smile.

Luus failed to capitalise on the chance as she ultimately lost her wicket in the very next over of Gardner. The South African batter managed only 19 runs off 33 balls and her knock comprised only two boundaries. The Proteas, who were batting first, set a target of 230 runs in the rain-affected clash, riding on a half-century by Marizanne Kapp and Anneke Bosch’s 44.

South Africa looked more dominant with the ball. They got the better of four Australian batters in the first ten overs. Kapp was responsible for the early collapse as the pacer picked back-to-back three wickets with the new ball. The upcoming Aussie batters also failed to stay longer at the crease. Kim Garth showed her mettle in the end but her unbeaten 42 went in vain as Australia fell 84 runs short of the target as per the DLS method.