The Sydney Thunder capitalised on Jess Duffin's controversial dismissal to claim a record-breaking opening-day Big Bash win over the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday.
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Sydney's 6-200 at North Sydney Oval was the largest ever score in the WBBL, but the stellar batting performance was overshadowed by the third umpire's decision to remove Duffin (nee Cameron) for a sparkling 81 from 47 balls just as she looked set to steer the visitors to victory.
Lisa Griffith took a catch at short third man to dismiss Duffin after the Renegades No 3 botched a reverse sweep. But replays looked to show the ball touching the ground, despite Griffith appearing to have two fingers underneath it.
Melbourne needed 28 runs to win with 17 balls remaining before Duffin's dismissal, and had looked on track to complete the record run chase.
"It's a tough question, don't really want to get myself in trouble, I guess they sent it upstairs for a reason so I'll leave it at that," Duffin said.
"I thought it was up in the air, I guess that's why they did send it upstairs. It's all part of cricket isn't it. I saw the replay on screen and that's about it, that's sort of why I stayed out there. I can't really say more than that.
"You kind of get over it. It's a 14-game tournament and we've already had one so you've got to get over it pretty quick, we've got some games next weekend.
"It's all to do with the umpires. They might even review it after the game, I don't know."
Duffin, who also plays in the AFL Women's competition for Collingwood, was one of several high-profile recruits for the Renegades who are now being coached by Tim Coyle.
And the visitors were on top early, reducing the Thunder to 3-30 with star trio Alex Blackwell, Rachel Priest and Stafanie Taylor sent back to the sheds for single-figure scores.
When Indian superstar Harmanpreet Kaur was run out by Molly Strano for eight the Renegades looked in complete control, before Rachael Haynes (55) and Naomi Stalenberg (38) dug in, allowing Nicola Carey to craft a superb 47 not out late in the innings.
"I don't know if we planned on making 200, we lost three early wickets so from there we were trying to consolidate a little bit but then Naomi Stalenberg batted really good with Rach in the middle," Carey said.
"You'll get some really big scores this season. You've got some quality players over here, you've got a lot of international girls coming over and the standard is getting better and better each year.
"This field is always runs galore, really good wicket to bat on and a really quick outfield."
Sophie Molineux blasted a quick-fire 25 to kickstart Melbourne's chase while Sri Lankan import Chamari Atapattu scored 42 from 30 balls in her debut Big Bash game.
Duffin then took charge before she was adjudged to have picked out Griffith off the bowling of Samantha Bates.
"I initially thought it was out. Then everyone went back to their positions and I thought maybe it's not out, then when it came up as out on the board everyone was shocked so we'll take that," Carey said.
"To be fair I was pretty stressed out for the whole 20 overs. I knew 200 was a good score but I also realised how good a batting wicket it was so they were always in with a chance and Jess batted really well to get them really close to the total.
"You've got to stick to what you know and what you do well and just be really cool, calm and collected."
The Thunder take on the Sydney Sixers on Sunday.
