Tasmanian hopes dashed after game abandoned

THE battle for finals spots in the domestic one-day cricket competition has descended into high farce after a fixture at North Sydney Oval was abandoned mid-chase.

A dangerous pitch led to Victoria defeating NSW last night via the DuckworthLewis-Stern method, usually reserved for rain-affected matches. The visitors reached 4-108 after 26 overs in their pursuit of 145 when officials called the game off.

Cricket Australia officials discussed the issue for more than 90 minutes following the match before ruling Victoria would be awarded a run-rate bonus point.

That verdict ended NSW’s finals hopes and all but ensured Victoria will join Western Australia and South Australia in the finals.

Tasmania needed NSW to lose without conceding a bonus point to stay in the hunt.

“That is a ridiculous decision and the umps should be held accountable,” Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones posted on Twitter.

“So pitch was safe when @CricketNSWBlues batted? Makes no sense. All officials involved should be fired immediately.

“It should be a No Result. Conditions didn’t change all game so if it was dangerous for one side it was dangerous for the other.”

The absurd finish, which came following a bouncer- laden over from Sean Abbott, was greeted by a chorus of boos from the crowd.

It is unclear if the venue will host tomorrow’s fixture between Western Australia and the Cricket Australia XI as planned.

Test pacemen Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who snared three wickets, Abbott, and Doug Bollinger all troub- led batsmen with their bounce on the unsafe deck. A CLASSY captain’s knock of 169 from Callum Ferguson guided South Australia into the finals.

Ferguson helped his side record a five-run victory over Western Australia in a dramatic clash that featured three centuries. SA is now second on the table behind WA.