In a surprising turn of events during Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) match number 49, Brisbane Heat found themselves at the receiving end of a rare penalty. Amelia Kerr, the New Zealand leg-spinner, inadvertently caught the ball with a towel in her hands, leading to the imposition of five penalty runs against the Heat.
The incident unfolded in the 10th over of Sydney Sixers’ chase when Ashleigh Gardner played a shot down the ground. Kerr, stationed at long-on, caught the ball with a towel in her hands. On-field umpire Joshua Adie promptly penalized the Heat with five runs.
The additional runs altered the equation, leaving the Sixers with a target of 103 runs to win from 10.5 overs. The penalty added a unique twist to the match, sparking discussions among fans and cricket enthusiasts.
The video of the unusual incident quickly made its way to social media, with FanCode sharing it on their official handles. The post humorously highlighted the unexpected consequence of catching a ball with a towel.
The incident prompted a light-hearted caption, stating, “Today we learned: Catching a ball with a towel results in a 5-run penalty.”
Today we learned: Catching a ball with a towel results in a 5-run penalty 😳#WBBLonFanCode #WBBL pic.twitter.com/PgLIvrJRHK
— FanCode (@FanCode) November 21, 2023
While Kerr faced the brunt of the penalty, her day on the field was challenging overall. She leaked 39 runs in 3 overs and failed to secure any wickets. Despite her struggles, the Heat had other bowlers making contributions.
Chasing a target of 177, Sydney Sixers showcased resilience. Ashleigh Gardner’s top score of 36 and Erin Burns’ quick-fire 35 propelled them towards victory. Mathilda Carmichael and Maitlan Brown’s unbeaten partnership sealed a 6-wicket win for the Sixers.
The victory elevated the Sixers to the fifth spot on the points table, accumulating 12 points with a net run rate of -0.362. Brisbane Heat, despite the penalty-induced setback, retained the fourth position with 14 points and a net run rate of 0.134.