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With the ball settled into the wicket and leaving a hole after its removal on the surface, the umpires abandoned the match. (Instagram/WBBL)
In the past, cricket has seen its share of incidents resulting in match delays as well as abandonments. From flying ants stopping a match between South Africa and India at Centurion for more than 30 minutes to a burnt toast by Nathan Lyon leading to fire fighters arriving amid a Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland in 2017-18, cricket matches have seen bizarre incidents halting play. Now a warm-up ball being rolled into the pitch has seen a WBBL match being abandoned. A week after WBBL side Sydney Thunder were denied a WBBL win with umpired abandoning play with the Thunder side just three runs away from the win against Adelaide Strikers in a rain curtailed match at Adelaide Oval, another WBBL match has been abandoned this time due to a warm-up ball being pressed into the pitch during the match between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Friday night.
With the Strikers posting a total of 167 for 4 in the 20 overs with Madeline Penna top scoring for the hosts with a knock of 63 runs, the match was evenly poised. With minutes remaining for Hurricanes to start their run chase, a warm-up ball was pressed into the surface with the curator rolling the pitch between the innings’ break. With the ball settled into the wicket and leaving a hole after its removal on the surface, the umpires abandoned the match.
“During the innings break and with teams warming up, a ball was inadvertently rolled onto the pitch while the roller was being used. The ball went beneath the roller creating a hole in the pitch. As a result, the pitch conditions were changed significantly. After consultation between the match referee and the umpires, it was considered unreasonable to expect the Hurricanes to bat in conditions that were materially different than those the Strikers had experienced. Both team captains were consulted by the officials and were accepting of this decision.” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
The Hurricanes, who are now at the top of the points table, would have scored their eight win this season if they had successfully chased the target posted by Strikers. The Elyse Vilani led team have lost only two matches this season while Strikers have scored only three wins this season and lie at the sixth spot in the eight-team tournament.
Earlier last week, Thunder were placed at 43 for 0 in 2.5 overs in their chase of 46 runs in five overs against Strikers when umpires called the game off amid rain. Phoebe Lichfield was batting on 38 runs off 15 balls when the match was abandoned and the Australian star had called the incident a ’shame’. “Disappointed. It’s a shame … it’s pretty disappointing.”Litchfield told Fox Sports after the match.
English (US) ·