A WBBL game in Adelaide ended in a strange way when a stray ball rolled under the heavy roller and got stuck in the pitch. The match between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes at Karen Rolton Oval had to be abandoned. It was the first time such an incident happened in Australia.
The problem occurred during the innings break. Hurricanes players were doing their fielding warm up. A ball slipped away and slid under the roller. The roller pressed it deep into the pitch and left a clear hole in the centre. Ground staff tried to repair the surface, but they could not make it safe for play.
The Strikers later posted a statement on Instagram. They said the pitch changed too much after the incident. Match officials felt it was unfair to make the Hurricanes bat on a surface that looked different from the one the Strikers had used. Both captains agreed with the decision to abandon the match.
The Hurricanes were set to chase 167. Madeline Penna gave the Strikers a strong first innings with an unbeaten 63 from 51 balls. She helped her team post 167 for 4.
The result hurt the Strikers. This was their third no result of the season. They dropped to sixth place with only one game left against the Sydney Sixers. They now must win that match to stay in the race for the finals.
