WBBL 2022: Sunlight delays final between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers; players wait for nightfall

A cricket game might be delayed for a variety of natural factors, such as rain and poor lighting, which undoubtedly kills the mood. A game being delayed due to poor light is still common, but have you ever witnessed a game being stopped due to too much light? It surely is a rare occurrence, but such an incident happened during the finals of the Women’s Big Bash League 2022 on Saturday, November 26.

Two-time champions Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers locked horns in the summit clash of the eighth edition of the WBBL. Strikers, who were aiming for their first title ahead of the clash won the toss and opted to bat. They posted 147/5 on board during their innings as the Sixers started their chase of 148 runs. It was during their chase when the game was stopped due to excessive sunlight.

Sixers batter Suzie Bates was unable to bat due to sunlight directly hitting her eyes. When the game was halted, Amanda Jade-Wellington, who was on the mic at the moment, said “Come on! It’s cricket. I don't understand why we're waiting?”, and went up to the on-field rival batter Bates, who said, “I need to be able to see!”

Sky Sports shared a video of the same on their official Twitter handle:

"I don't understand why we're waiting"...

..."I need to be able to see!"

Play has been delayed due to the sun being in the batters eyes in the WBBL final ☀️🏏pic.twitter.com/8vbHfDULxQ

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) November 26, 2022

Speaking of how the match panned out, Strikers’ opening batters Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt started the game with a 51-run partnership. Top-order batter and the team’s skipper Tahlia McGrath played a composed knock of 21-ball 24 before being dismissed. It was then Deandra Dottin’s powerful half-century knock that led the Strikers to a defendable total of 147 runs.

The responsibility was on the bowlers next, who had a big task of restricting the in-form opposition batters. Darcie Brown got her side an early breakthrough by dismissing Alyssa Healy. Sixers could not handle the blow well and lost momentum from the beginning. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals, while Ellyse Perry kept the game going from one end.

Nicole Bolton and Maitlan Brown steadied the innings in the middle, but their efforts were just not enough as the Sixers fell short by 10 runs. Combined efforts from each and every Adelaide Strikers’ bowler helped their side lift their maiden championship title as they restricted the Sixers to 137 runs.