Barbados: Semifinal Abandoned Due To Rain (4 Aug 1998)

4 August 1998

Semifinal Abandoned Due To Rain

by Philip Hackett at Paragon

Rain saved Wotton some embarrassment on Sunday, forcing the abandonment of their clash with Barbados Defence Force in the semifinal of the Barbados Fire and Commercial Shield Competition.

Wotton had limped to three for two from 2.4 overs on a rain-affected pitch when another shower dumped more water on the pitch. After a second inspection of the conditions around 12:30 p.m., it was agreed to call the match off.

Shortly after the match was called off the rains gave way to blue skies and sunny conditions, providing further ammunition for those who have been arguing for the use of covers at this stage of the tournament.

"One-day cricket must be played in perfect conditions," BDF coach Hendy Springer told NationSport after the match had been abandoned.

"At this stage covers should be used," said the former Barbados off-spinner.

"The conditions were good after the rain stopped, apart from the actual pitch. The sun was out brightly and the field dried out. The covers would have made a difference," he stressed.

Springer queried why covers could not be used for the Shield semifinal when they are used for the Second Division final.

He noted, though, that his team will be just as confident about doing well when the game is rescheduled.

Public relations officer for Wotton, Mark Seale, shared Springer's sentiments about the pitch.

"We are wondering why games at this level can't have covers. If we had had covers the game would have been played," he noted.

Seale had no regrets about the decision to abandon as he felt the match would have developed into a farce if the overs were substantially reduced and play went ahead in sub-standard conditions.

"A tournament which is based upon 40 overs-per-side should not be determined by a 15-over fiasco," he said.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)