The Power Surge rule that was introduced in the Big Bash League this season has made quite a few headlines, most recently when Pakistan batsman Babar Azam was denied a single by team-mate Steve Smith. On Wednesday, however, Melbourne Stars had to contend with not being able to use that rule at all due to rain, which brought the Duckworth-Lewis Stern (DLS) method into play. Hurricanes had posted a total of 114 for 5 batting first in ten overs in the rain-curtailed match with the team having the one over of Power Surge. Stars were 9 for 1 in two overs before rain returned and the revised target according to the DLS method was revised to to 85 runs needed in seven overs. However, the revision also resulted in the Stars being denied their one-over Power Surge. They lost the match by three runs and Stars coach Peter Moores spoke up about it. “That was quite a tough Duckworth-Lewis in the way it came for us but that’s the game, you’ve got to take what you’ve got in front of you. We knew the rate was going to keep going up because it got harder to bowl actually as the ball got wetter. It was not easy in those conditions for anybody to perform, it got close, Hilton Cartwright got us close to it in the end … it hurts for sure. It makes a difference in a short game and in England we do that, in Australia we obviously do it by overs, that’s one of the rules of the Big Bash. I know we’ve done it over in England for a bit so maybe it’s something (to look at) but we all play to the rules of each competition so we’ve got no complaints about it,” said Moores post the loss. Introduced for the first time in BBL in 2020-2021, the Power Surge rule sees the standard six-over powerplay reduced to four overs at the start and the two Power Surge overs with two fielders allowed outside the circle to be used anytime after the ten over in the innings. Chasing the target of 115 runs, which was then revised to the target of 85 runs in seven overs Stars sent hard hitting Marcus Stoinis and Glen Maxwell to bat at number four and five. Eventually, Maxwell only faced four balls hitting nine runs. Tom Rogers, Sam Harper, Joe Clarke and Stoinis batted ahead of Maxwell and the Stars lost the chance to advance to the BBL Challenger. Hurricanes will now face Sydney Sixers at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday with the winner of the match advancing to play Perth Scorchers in Sunday’s night’s final.
Rain and DLS deny Melbourne Stars Power Surge in BBL match
