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WBBL Clash Abandoned After Ball Damages Pitch At Karen Rolton Oval
Follow UsCricket Australia later confirmed that the altered pitch condition left officials with no option but to halt proceedings
A bizarre incident at Karen Rolton Oval brought the WBBL 11 fixture between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes to a premature end on Friday night, after a ball rolled onto the surface during the innings break, causing noticeable damage to the pitch.
The issue surfaced moments before the Hurricanes’ chase was set to begin. During the Strikers’ on-field warm-up, a throw sent the ball under the ground roller, leaving a small cavity on the playing strip serious enough for the umpires to deem it unsafe for batting.
Cricket Australia later confirmed that the altered pitch condition left officials with no option but to halt proceedings.
"As a result, the pitch conditions were changed significantly," a Cricket Australia statement read. "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.
"As a result, the match was abandoned and the points split."