[WATCH]- England Captain Sparks Controversy By Snubbing Umpires’ Handshakes After Australia’s Win In 2nd T20I

England women’s team captain Heather Knight declined to shake hands with the match officials following a dramatic conclusion to the second T20I against Australia in Canberra. England narrowly missed out on the Ashes, suffering a six-run defeat via the DLS method in a rain-affected game.

Chasing a challenging target of 186 to stay in contention for the multi-format Ashes, Knight played a vital cameo after coming in at 99-3 in the 13th over. At one point, England were two runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain briefly halted play.

The players left the field but soon returned without a reduction in overs. After Nat Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal at the end of the penultimate over, the responsibility fell heavily on Knight to steer her team to victory.

With 22 runs needed in the final over, Heather Knight hit a boundary off Annabel Sutherland’s first ball before rain halted play again. Frustrated, Knight threw her bat to the ground as the game was called off due to persistent rain.

With England behind the DLS par score, Australia were declared winners, but Knight chose not to partake in the customary post-match handshake. The Australian skipper exchanged handshakes with the officials before leaving, but Heather Knight turned away, ignoring the umpire’s extended hand.

You can watch the video here:

https://x.com/7cricket/status/1882397444312301732?s=46

“Sadly, it didn’t achieve the outcome we had hoped for”- England captain Heather Knight

Heather Knight remained unbeaten with an impressive 43 runs off 19 balls, boasting a strike rate of 226.32. Chasing 18 runs from five balls was a daunting task, but the England captain had strong momentum on her side.

“It was a fantastic game of cricket. Although we managed to build a crucial partnership towards the end, it was unfortunate that it didn’t quite yield the desired result. Chasing 180 was always going to be a tough ask, but I’m proud of the way the team fought till the very end,” Heather Knight said during the post-match presentation

England are facing immense pressure after enduring five straight losses in the Ashes, following their group-stage exit at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.

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