Maxwell baffled by ‘extraordinary’ call

Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell has been left baffled by an “extraordinary” umpiring decision in their 27-run KFC BBL loss to the Perth Scorchers on Sunday night.

Stars opener Ben Dunk was given out for two early in the run chase despite the Scorchers fielder saying he didn't catch the ball.

Nick Hobson immediately shook his head after taking the ball low to the ground at square leg and, after seeing Hobson's reaction, paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile started walking back to his mark.

Despite the reaction of his teammates, wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft lodged an appeal and the on-field umpires asked for the third official to intervene.

Despite Hobson saying the catch hadn’t carried, the on-field officials gave a ‘soft signal’ of out.

With vision too blurry to make a conclusive call, the third umpire upheld the soft signal and Dunk was on his way.

“From our point of view, it was pretty disappointing that the fielder says he doesn’t catch it, the bowler accepts that and walks back to his mark, and somehow it’s been given out on-field,” Maxwell said.

“It looked to me that the bowler and the fielder said it didn’t carry, and everyone went back to their positions. And Bancroft asked for it to be had a look at.

“And somehow the umpire has come up with ‘that’s out’. It’s an extraordinary decision in the end, but that’s history.

“Judging by the evidence given to them, I would’ve thought that the umpires would’ve said it was soft signal ‘not out’ and if there was evidence it was out, I’m fine with it being overturned.

“The cameras looked a bit blurry, and as soon as you don’t have the right evidence to overturn it, unfortunately it’s going to stick with the umpire’s call and we’ll have to live with that.”

Dunk's dismissal was an early blow for the Stars but it was the exit of Maxwell (61 off 40 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (49 off 40) within the space of three balls that killed off their hopes.

Chasing 183 for victory, the Stars finished on 9-155.

It left them with a 6-6 record, and still needing one more win from their final two matches to secure a finals berth.

The Stars take on the Heat in Brisbane on Friday, before hosting the Sydney Sixers on February 10.