Joe Clarke and Beau Webster were controversially awarded sixes for shots that hit the Docklands stadium roof as the Melbourne Stars' BBL finals hopes ended in a tense derby clash defeat.
English opener Clarke top-scored with 59 from 37 deliveries but the Stars threw away victory in a six-run defeat to the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday night.
The result left the Stars (3-8) languishing on the bottom of the ladder and strengthened the Renegades' (6-5) grip on a finals spot .
The biggest talking point came from skied shots into the retractable part of the Docklands venue's roof by Clarke and Webster.
Both would have resulted in catching chances for the Renegades, but the Stars were awarded six runs under BBL playing conditions.
The incidents reignited debate over the rule.
Under previous regulations, which retired great Mark Waugh said should be reinstated, they would have been ruled dead balls.
"The thing is it's cost them [the Renegades] 12 runs which is just wrong," Waugh said on the Fox Sports broadcast.
"At the minimum, it should be a dead ball. It should not be six runs.
"Twelve runs is a big difference in this game, let alone the fact that they would've been out.
"You can't do much about that, but there's no way it should be an automatic six."
Clarke was on 16 from 10 balls before the first incident and took advantage of what was effectively a lifeline, blasting two fours and five sixes.
Stars coach David Hussey, whose brother Mike Hussey hit the roof while playing a one-dayer for Australia against a World XI in 2005, welcomed Clarke's "free" six runs.
"I think it actually got Joe going, too, which is nice," Hussey said on Fox Sports.
The incidents frustrated Renegades stand-in captain Aaron Finch.
Ironically, it was a shot by Finch in 2013 which led to the rule being changed in the first place.
"It would've been two simple catches tonight. They're both straight up," Finch told Fox Sports.
Will Sutherland also questioned the ruling when interviewed after the match.
"I think I let out a few expletives when they got a few into the roof but that's the rules and they're the same for both sides," Sutherland said.
"But I do hope they change it now after that.
In the end, those 12 extra runs did not affect the result, despite the Stars appearing to be cruising to victory when they needed just 21 runs from the final four overs with six wickets in hand.
But they fell apart, staggering to 7-156 in pursuit of 163 for victory as Kane Richardson (2-17), Tom Rogers (2-45) and Sutherland (0-39) tightened the screws late.
Renegades spin duo Fawad Ahmed (1-20) and Ruwantha Kellepotha (1-33) also helped turn the tide in the back half of the innings, combining for 12 consecutive dot balls across three overs.
Sam Harper's third consecutive half-century (51 from 36) had helped lift the Renegades to a competitive total of 7-162 after they were sent in to bat.
Jon Wells (44 from 24) also made a strong contribution.
The Stars' bowlers spread the workload, with Liam Hatcher (2-34), Adam Zampa (1-27) and Luke Wood (1-29) all getting in on the action.
Brody Couch took 2-40 from three overs after being called into the side as a replacement for rested frontline bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile.
AAP/ABC
