Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers match abandoned as ‘drenched’ pitch deemed too dangerous in historic BBL first
Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers: In a historic occurrence in the BBL, the Renegades’ match against the Scorchers had to be abandoned due to unsafe pitch conditions caused by rainwater leaking through the covers before the game.
The Scorchers were at 2-30 from 6.5 overs when uneven bounce led to the suspension and eventual abandonment of the match, making it the first time in the 555-match history of the BBL that pitch conditions forced such an outcome.
Scorchers’ players Aaron Hardie (20) and Josh Inglis (3) were at the crease when the suspension occurred. The uneven bounce raised concerns about player safety, leading to a 20-minute delay and subsequent abandonment. This unusual incident left fans disappointed, and a small number of them expressed their frustration by throwing objects onto the field. The Renegades later confirmed that all general admission ticket holders would receive a refund.
Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers: Maddinson had already expressed dissatisfaction with the drenched pitch
Renegades general manager James Rosengarten expressed disappointment, particularly for the loyal fans in Geelong and Victoria. The premature end to the match raised questions about whether it was genuinely dangerous for the batsmen or just difficult to bat on. Commentators discussed the potential threat to player safety, with concerns about balls bouncing unpredictably from the wet patch on the pitch.
Renegades skipper Nic Maddinson had already expressed dissatisfaction with the drenched pitch before the game started. Umpires initially had no concerns during their inspection, but the seventh over revealed unsafe conditions, leading to the abandonment of the match.
Cricket Australia announced that they would conduct a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the abandonment. Each team will receive one point unless the game can be rescheduled, and fans will be refunded the cost of their tickets.
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