Warriors, Knights match abandoned

THE Momentum One-Day Cup qualifier between the VKB Knights and the Warriors was abandoned at the Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein yesterday.

Umpires Adrian Holdstock and Allahhudien Paleker halted proceedings after 28 overs with concerns over the playing surface.

After consultations with the match referee, Barry Lambson, Knights coach Nicky Boje and Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa, Holdstock and Paleker called the match off because the safety of the players was of prime concern.

The umpires also consulted with the respective captains, the Knights’ Pite van Biljon and Jon-Jon Smuts after concerns with the way the ball behaved, especially outside the off stump of the right-handed batsmen.

Both umpires confirmed after the match was halted that the match will be played on the same surface with the groundsman being given a little bit more time to try and produce a surface that is safe to play on.

The teams will return to the ground today to restart the match after the Warriors had edged their way to 88/3 with Smuts (14), Gihahn Cloete (30) and Colin Ingram (7) back in the hut. The pitch had played a major part in the three wickets to fall with one ball keeping low, one taking off on a length and the third deviating quite a bit.

The Warriors had won the toss and elected to bat first with Smuts and Cloete putting on 35 for the first wicket before Dillon du Preez bowled Smuts with a ball that stayed low and came off the toe-end of the bat.

Du Preez then delivered a length ball that jumped up off the pitch which had Ingram trying to jump out of the way, only to edge the ball through to Rudi Second behind the stumps.

Mbulelo Budaza then had Cloete caught down the leg side with a ball that moved sideways.

When the match was called off for the day, Colin Ackermann and Yaseen Vallie were at the crease on 21 and eight not out respectively after adding 13 runs for the fourth wicket. — SuperSport