‘I don't think we were 100% sure or happy with the decisions’ – Hayley Mathews expressed her disappointment over two umpiring errors

West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews expressed her frustration as her team faced adversity in their eight-wicket defeat to Australia. Despite being on the wrong side of two tight TV umpire verdicts, Matthews refrained from using this as an excuse, acknowledging that her side was thoroughly outclassed in the ODI series. 

The Caribbean side, reeling at 38 for 2, found themselves in dire straits at 39 for 4 while batting first in the third ODI at Junction Oval, Melbourne, following a pair of contentious decisions by TV umpire Claire Polosak in the span of just three deliveries. The West Indies opener expressed her disappointment over the verdicts and displayed sportsmanship in accepting such mishaps and moving on.

Following the match, the 25-year-old refrained from attributing fault to the TV official, emphasizing her team's responsibility to respect the decisions, despite their disagreement. She, however, expressed her intention to discuss the contentious verdicts with the match officials during the post-match captains' meeting, highlighting a desire for clarification and fair play.

"I think they were really close decisions, I know a lot of the time when you're not too sure, the benefit of the doubt is given to the batter. But the umpire had a decision to make. I don't think we were 100% sure or happy with the decisions but at the same time, we've got to respect the decision that the umpire has made and go with it,” said Matthews as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

The two umpiring errors that stirred up the hornet's nest

Stafanie Taylor's dismissal, caught and bowled by Annabel Sutherland, stirred controversy as replays indicated the ball had made contact with the ground prior to lodging in Sutherland's grasp. In a subsequent incident, Shemaine Campbelle was adjudged lbw by on-field umpire Eloise Sheridan, and upon review, TV umpire Claire Polosak affirmed the original verdict.

Polosak's decision rested on the ball's contact with Campbelle's pad before it brushed the inside edge, leading to a discernible deflection onto the pad. These contentious calls added intrigue to the match, sparking discussions about the accuracy and precision of decision-making in the game of cricket. West Indies managed to post a mere 103 runs before losing all their wickets, while Australia Women successfully chased down the target with only two wickets down in 15.3 overs.