In an unexpected change of events, the match officials declared the pitch “unsafe” to play, leading to the abandonment of Big Bash League BBL 2023–24’s fourth match. The match authorities wisely decided not to proceed with the game on the fifth ball of the seventh over, citing the uneven bounce of the surface at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong as their reasoning.
The fourth game began on Sunday, December 10, with Renegades captain Nic Maddinson winning the toss and opting to bowl first. They struck early, sending two of the opposition hitters back to the pavilion before the fifth over, demonstrating the apparent effectiveness of their decision. Even though it seemed like the circumstances were difficult to bat in, things worsened in the seventh over.
The surface started acting strangely when Will Sutherland was bowling the seventh over. Sutherland bowled three distinct balls of the same length, but the amount of bounce varied greatly between the three. At this point, the referees intervened and decided to immediately halt the game. A few minutes after the break, the game was eventually dropped.
Big Bash League BBL
Match abandoned in Geelong.
Appreciate all the @RenegadesBBL fans that came out tonight ❤️ #BBL13
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 10, 2023
In relation to the competition, the Renegades were participating in their second match of the year, while the Scorchers were making their debut. Following their defeat in the opening game, Maddinson & Co. needed to recover more strongly. They were thrilled to get the ideal head start, but they were disappointed when the surface at Geelong did too much.
The match is still postponed, and the next one between the Sydney Sixers and the Hobart Hurricanes will take place in Launceston on Monday, December 11.
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