We know the world champion Kiwis in cricket don’t sweat the small stuff. But in a T20 international against Sri Lanka, the White Ferns’ Georgia Plimmer accepted the decision and walked off even when knowing she had nowhere nicked the ball in the second over, claimed by keeper Anushka Sanjeewani with Sugandika Kumari bowling on Sunday.
Subsequent replays showed a massive gap between bat and ball and explained why Plimmer was thoroughly bemused as she saw the umpire rule her out. She walked away without taking a review anyway. New Zealand were left not rueing it all as they won in world champion style by 7 wickets, avenging the loss by same margin in the opening match.
“The White Ferns will be grateful the wicket that wasn’t a wicket did not sink them, setting up a T20 series decider,” Stuff.com wrote. But it raised a question if women cricketers don’t ask for enough reviews even when available.
4000 fans had turned up at the Hagley Oval as the World Champions levelled the series 1-1, ahead of the Dunedin decider on Tuesday. Sri Lanka made 113/7 and Bates (47) and Brook Halliday (46) helped the White Ferns chase it down with 9 balls to spare.
The G in Georgia stands for greatness! 🔥
Georgia Plimmer smashes her maiden ODI century with a stunning 112 off 120 balls, becoming the 3rd youngest White Fern to bring up a century! 🫡#NZvSL pic.twitter.com/Ix99JPFNxG
— FanCode (@FanCode) March 9, 2025
Opener Plimmer was considered unlucky to be packed off caught behind, in the second over when replays showed she did not hit the ball. Not taking the review was surprising ultra edge showed there had been no contact on the bat. “Non-striker Suzie Bates also seemed to miss it and Plimmer strolled back to the pavilion,” Stuff.com wrote.
It wasn’t just the review the ladies forgot. There has been a catching blunder when Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu was on 17. Chamari had struck a wonderful 64 in the last match. She skied one up to backward point and “Jess Kerr and Emma McLeod were guilty of miscommunication, running into each other and the catch going down. However, the world champions sent her back on 23.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
