Eastern Cricket Association: Wet wicket at Mont Albert Reserve delays Dunstan Shield semi-final

Eastern Cricket Association heavyweights Mont Albert and North Balwyn were dragged back to the blocks after a false start on Saturday, a wet wicket at Mont Albert Reserve causing day one of their semi-final to be abandoned without a ball bowled.

Mont Albert skipper Jack Joslin. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Eastern Cricket Association heavyweights Mont Albert and North Balwyn were dragged back to the blocks after a false start on Saturday, a wet wicket at Mont Albert Reserve causing day one of their semi-final to be abandoned without a ball bowled.

The semi-final will remain a two-dayer, however, with play set down for Sunday and the reserve day on the Labour Day Monday public holiday.

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North Balwyn skipper Nitesh Patel Picture: Hamish Blair

Mont Albert skipper Jack Joslin said both sides were left frustrated but he was philosophical about the delay.

“That’s just cricket isn’t it?” he said. “Nothing much we can do about it

“The association instructed us to get the wicket covered on Friday night and the boys did that.

“It (the cover) happened to be slightly over one of the sprinklers.”

Though the Mont Albert skipper said he couldn’t be certain, he thinks there may have been a problem with the timer in the watering system and the sprinkler went off under the edge of the covers.

“A bit of water built up and spread across the wicket,” he said.

Though the wicket dried quickly and both Joslin and his opposite number Nitesh Patel were keen to make a start, with so much riding on the match and with the reserve day following so closely on the Monday, the umpires came down on the side of caution.

“Whoever batted first would have been at a bit of a disadvantage,” Joslin said.

“We both wanted to play because you put in all that effort to get there, but the umpires weren’t sure.

“It probably takes a bit of the nervous energy out of it now and both sides will settle a bit quicker (on Sunday).”

In the other semi-final, East Doncaster posted a healthy 267 in 75 overs against Heathmont at Zerbes Reserve.

Facing a testing five-over stint before the close of play, Heathmont reached the safety of stumps at 0-16 and was set to resume its chase on Sunday (scores unavailable at time of going to print).

Meanwhile, in MacGibbon Shield, Deepdene Uniting has bowled itself into a solid position on the opening day of its semi-final against Toorak Prahran at Orrong Park.

After losing the toss, Deepdene Uniting found itself in the field against the minor premiers but did a sterling job with ball, holding the Combine to just 178 in 72.2 overs.

Uniting then survived a seven-over stint before stumps, erasing 20 runs from its Sunday target while retaining all 10 wickets.

In the other semi-final, Glen Waverley carded 155 at home against Clifton Hill at Brentwood Reserve on Saturday.