Ploughed cricket pitch leaves players distraught

Melbourne: Cricket has seen many disruptions due to streakers on the field, bad light or ugly crowd behaviour. However, here comes another interesting incident when match officials had no other option than to abandon play after hooligans dug up the wicket.

The second day of a club match at the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, here on Saturday was left abandoned after vandals ploughed the cricket pitch.

Read: When a naked woman, man ran havoc on cricket field

According to a report on Cricket Australia’s website Kingsville Baptist Cricket Club, who were 1-46 in pursuit of Sunshine Heights' 186 and chasing a spot in the finals, turned up to their home ground of Skinner Reserve in Sunshine only to see the pitch had been rendered unplayable.

Officials tried to relocate the match but were unsuccessful, and with a draw the end result, Kingsville missed qualification for the finals.

Also Read: Watch: Move over streakers and nasty fans, train brings sporting event to a standstill

The sad thing about it - the covers were there and the covers were pulled off. Someone who did it knew what they were doing," club treasurer Peter Hardeman was quoted as saying in the report.

It looked like a shovel or a sharp object had been used. They had dug up areas at both ends of the pitch. It reminded me of a ploughed field. There was also an oily substance that had been poured all along the pitch," he added.