Geelong Cricket Association moves T20 competition back a week after Sunday and Monday rain

The GCA has made a call on an upcoming fixture, shifting more games after more than 30mm of rain fell in 24 hours and caused more flooding to one of the competition’s grounds.

South Barwon ovals are flooded again.

PERSISTENT rain has continued to plague the Geelong Cricket Association, with the first round of the inaugural inter-divisional T20 competition delayed again.

The GCA made the call on Monday to push back the midweek competition a week to November 22 after thunderstorms and heavy rain hit Geelong on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Grounds committee member Darren Hauenstein said almost every ground would be “no chance” of hosting a game on Tuesday.

“The T20s are being delayed for a week based on that heavy rain,” he said.

“Out of the 16 grounds, about 15 of those would be no chance to have cricket played there.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 34mm of rainfall at Geelong Racecourse in a 24-hour period from Sunday to Monday, but the region is only predicted to receive a further 4-6mm before Saturday.

“It was a really big downpour that we had, so we made the call early to give the grounds the week to get ready.”

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 34mm of rainfall at Geelong Racecourse in a 24-hour period from Sunday to Monday, but the region is only predicted to receive a further 4-6mm before Saturday.

A further 6-15mm is predicted on Saturday, threatening the second round of the GCA season.

Hauenstein said the overall health of the competition’s pitches was better than expected despite the deluge.

“We’ve actually been a bit lucky that the rain has come when it did,” he said.

“The forecast is pretty good this week, right up until Saturday but hopefully that rain is delayed or the predictions change a bit.

“Looking around the competition the pitches had a bit of a green tinge to them but they seemed to play pretty well, some decent scores were made.

Fresh concerns have emerged at South Barwon, with the constant rain threatening the health of the pitch.

“Our curators have done a fantastic job.”

Fresh concerns have emerged at South Barwon, with the constant rain threatening the health of the pitch.

When the Barwon River broke its banks in October, South Barwon Reserve spent days under water, but curators at the facilities prepared the wicket for play on Saturday.

The Swans’ second grade side fell two runs short of Grovedale’s total of 164, and Hauenstein said all reports about the wicket were positive.

“The ground is on a flood plain so it does receive more water and doesn’t deal with it well,” he said.

“It was a bit soft from all reports but it was a good game of cricket.”

Originally published as Geelong Cricket Association moves T20 competition back a week after Sunday and Monday rain