New Zealand: Official scorers blamed for Priest 'century' error (13 January 1999)

13 January 1999

New Zealand: Official scorers blamed for Priest 'century' error

The Christchurch Press

Canterbury cricket officials have moved to ensure there is no repeat of the fiasco with the scoreboard at Jade Stadium.

On Friday night Canterbury batsman Mark Priest pushed for a single in the last over against Auckland, to bring up what he thought was his maiden Shell Cup century.

According to the ground scoreboard, he had clocked up the magical three figures, and he and the crowd celebrated the achievement. It was only later, when Priest left the field, that he realised he had been left stranded on 98.

An error had occurred involving the official scorers and the scoreboard operators.

"In the case of the Priest incident, we were not to blame," Jade Stadium Ltd spokesman Derek McCullough said yesterday. Jade Stadium Ltd provides the scoreboard operators at the venue. McCullough said the official scorers had actually got things wrong, when they mistakenly gave Priest six runs, instead of four, when he hit a boundary in the 80s.

The scoreboard operators were following the dictates of the official scorers, said McCullough.

Canterbury Cricket chief executive Tony Murdoch said yesterday that the official scorers and the scoreboard operators were positioned at different parts of the ground and communicated with each other over a walkie-talkie.

He attributed the problem to "human error".

He said inquiries had been made with Jade Stadium Ltd after what he called difficulties with the scoreboard throughout the season.

"We certainly will have a CCA scorer with the scoreboard operators for the next lot of fixtures," said Murdoch.

Priest was philosophical about the error yesterday, being more concerned about Canterbury's run of losses recently. It finds itself in fifth spot on the Shell Cup table.

"It's too late now (about his innings). More disappointing was the fact we got dicked."

It was a long time since he remembered losing two home games in a row.

Priest said now was the time for a lot of younger players to make a name for themselves while many of Canterbury's players were on international duty.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)