Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell was left baffled by a controversial umpiring decision in their 27-run BBL loss to the Perth Scorchers.
A win would have secured a finals' berth for Melbourne.
Stars opener Ben Dunk was given out for two 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.
After seeing Hobson's reaction, paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile started walking back to his mark.
But wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft thought maybe the ball had carried to Hobson and put up an appeal.
The umpires gave a 'soft signal' dismissal and sent the final decision to the third umpire.
With vision too blurry to make a conclusive call, the soft signal was upheld, much to the surprise of Maxwell.
"It was pretty disappointing that the fielder says he doesn't catch it, and the bowler accepts it and walks back to the mark, and somehow it's been given out on the field," Maxwell said.
"That's an extraordinary decision in the end.
"Judging by the evidence given to them, I thought the umpires would have soft signalled 'not out'.
"And if there was evidence it was out, I'm fine with it being overturned (by the third umpire). But 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."
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 at 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.
