The Women's Big Bash League game today (November 28) between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder was controversially called off for rain when Thunder needed just three runs to win.
The match had already been reduced to a five-over-per-side game because of the persistent rainfall in Adelaide. Thunder won the bat flip and chose to field, with Strikers reaching 45-2 off their five overs, in large part due to 22 runs scored off 13 balls by Laura Wolvaardt.
When it was Thunder's turn to bat, they got off to a flier thanks to Phoebe Litchfield, who hit four boundaries off Sophie Ecclestone's first over. She then hit a further five fours off Darcie Brown in the second.
By this time, light rain had started to fall again, but the umpires did not call for the covers to be brought on as the rain was light. Litchfield took another four off Amanda-Jade Wellington in the third over, and took a single to reduce the equation for Thunder to three needed off 13 balls.
However, at that point the umpires decided to come together for a discussion over whether play was still possible in the falling rain. Despite commentators detailing that the rain had not got any heavier than it had been in the previous 15 minutes, the umpires called for the covers to be brought onto the pitch, much to the dismay of Litchfield and opening partner Georgia Voll.
Given the amount of time already lost in the game, it was clear the players were not going to be able to get back on the pitch, and the players shook hands before walking off.
"It's an embarrassment and they could have done things a lot better than we have (seen) tonight." - Katey Martin
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 28, 2025
"That is an utter embarrassment that's taken place." - Alister Nicholson
"It's actually embarrassing for the game." - Callum Ferguson
- On tonight's finish #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/qjPxQ4qTYd
Speaking on Channel 7 following the match, Alister Nicholson said: "That is an utter embarrassment that's taken place here. There is not a drop of rain at the moment. That game was within a whisker of being determined, the result was completely clear, and the Sydney Thunder have been robbed of victory."
Callum Ferguson said: "I'm absolutely blown away. It's actually embarrassing for the game. I cannot believe we've gone through what we did, what the curating staff did out there to get us ready for the contest was extraordinary, and stuff we haven't seen before. They were dumping water left, right and centre, getting the Super Soppers out there manually and cleaning up.
"To go through all of that and play through so much rain in those 10 overs, to then get to the point where we're within one strike of getting a result in this fixture, with all the fans in the stands, all the fans watching around the country, I'm disappointed for so many people in this situation, it's really disappointing to see the game let itself down like this."
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