MPCA investigates last-round result in Sub District 2nds

A local cricket association has investigated a match outcome due to suspicions of allegedly fabricating the result.

The MPCA has investigated a result in the last round of the season.

The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has investigated a match result amid allegations of conspiracy and collusion to contrive a result.

The Ballam Park-Mt Martha Sub District 2nds match — a one-dayer — last Saturday was drawn, with Mt Martha 6-140 in reply to Ballam Park’s 9-175.

Play was ceased, with five overs left, at the 6.30pm cut off.

Both sides made finals, with Mt Martha finishing in third spot and Ballam Park securing fourth, on percentage ahead of Tootgarook.

Tootgarook president Toby Maughan said he and members from his club arrived at Ballam Park after finishing their own game (which was a tie), “to see players standing around not playing at 6:25”.

“We had noticed no updates on PlayHQ for approximately 10 minutes,’’ Maughan said.

The MPCA board and senior pennant met with Ballam Park and Mt Martha on Monday night, and found, “there was no evidence of contrivance before or during the game by either captain or club to manipulate the result’’.

“The failure to complete the required overs for this match rests with both captains,” the MPCA said.

“We determined poor management of playing time and a lack of understanding of the correct finishing times as laid out in MPCA Senior Playing Rules were the cause of the failure to complete the overs and achieve a result.”

MPCA president Steve Morone said: “We cannot find any evidence of any sort of contrived result. We have spoken to clubs about some very disappointing things that happened, but basically we cannot find any evidence of any contrived result between the two captains and the two clubs.”

It’s the second year in a row controversy has arisen around finals time in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association season.

Last year, in Peninsula 2nds, Baxter’s resounding win over Mt Eliza in a semi-final was overturned after it was ruled to have played an ineligible player.

MPCA Sub District 2nds ladder: Frankston YCW 132, Delacombe Park 124, Mt Martha 124, Ballam Park 96, Tootgarook 96, Tyabb 72, Rye 42, Skye 30.