By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 4 (Day 2)
FOR a game played in such cold, wintery conditions on Saturday, the second day’s play of Pakenham’s WGCA Premier clash with Cardinia at Toomuc Reserve had plenty of heat.
Needing 176 to clinch first innings points, Pakenham fell 16 runs short on 3/160 with the match drawn. But the scorecard doesn’t even come close to telling the full story.
Rain delays throughout day two caused no end of frustration for the Lions, who started the second day’s play on 0/86 with openers Russ Lehman (63) and Chris Smith (42) seemingly doing it comfortably.
While games on grounds nearby went ahead – including the front oval at Toomuc – the Premier clash was subject to massive delays that put an end to Pakenham’s hopes of toppling the undefeated Bulls.
At times it seemed play could have, and should have, re-started much earlier than it did and it seemed Cardinia took an ultra-cautious approach when it came to the safety of its bowlers. Any other side in its position would almost certainly have done the same.
But according to the 4th Edition of the Laws of Cricket, the umpires are “the sole judges of fair and unfair play”. It’s their decision as to when, or if, play re-starts.
The rules state: “The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of time wasting, damaging the pitch, dangerous or unfair bowling, tampering with the ball or any other action they consider to be unfair”.
There was plenty of conjecture as to whether or not the pitch was safe for play at stages, with the bowling run-ups remaining slippery.
But under Law 3, ‘The Umpires’, Section 8 titled ‘Fitness for Play’ states: “It is solely for the umpires together to decide whether either conditions of ground, weather or light or exceptional circumstances mean that it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place.
“Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.”
Cardinia player-coach Simon Parrott, who wasn’t playing in the round-four contest, acknowledged the situation had created “plenty of waves”.
“(But) at the end of the day there are two umpires who control the game,” he said.
“I think Pakenham deserved to go on and win but we didn’t ask for the weather and pitch conditions to be what they were.
“I’ve played in many games where we were in a winning position and weather played a part (in stopping that).”
Parrott said Pakenham skipper Jason Williams “conducted himself extremely professionally” throughout the situation on Saturday, adding: “I respect him 100 per cent”.
“The shoes could so easily have been on the other foot.
“The game was one we got away with but I thought Dean Henwood and Barf (Cardinia skipper Neil Barfuss) bowled extremely well in the conditions.”
Pakenham Cricket Club president Phil Anning said he had no comment to make on the matter as the Lions had sent their thoughts to the league and were awaiting clarification from them.
For his part, Williams said: “Their team is undefeated and any win for us would have been handy”.
But he added that his group spoke about the positives to take out of the game, which the players could use as a stepping stone towards strong results for the rest of the season.
“Welshy, Russ and Smitty batted really well and that’ll give them confidence for the rest of the year.
“That performance is our benchmark.”
Smith (42) and Lehman (63) put on 111 for the first wicket, while some brilliant shot-making from Bradey Welsh (31 not out) as time ran out took the Lions to within sight of an unlikely win.
In the round’s other Premier games, Merinda Park (7/275) dominated reigning champions Kooweerup (92), Tooradin (0/129) cruised to victory over Beaconsfield (107) and Upper Beaconsfield (184) and Emerald (0/42) drew.
