With heatwave conditions prevailing on Saturday, in order to try and beat the main heat of the day, Cricket NSW decreed that all matches would start at 9am instead of the usual time of 12pm and extra drink breaks were also allowed to help keep the players hydrated during the very hot and humid conditions.
Despite the temperature steadily rising, the Eagles bowlers toiled away in the harsh conditions, bowling a tight line and length, making it difficult for the Mounties batters to score runs.
With the Eagles also working hard in the field, the task of scoring runs was even more difficult, which kept the pressure on the Mounties batters.
The pressure eventually took its toll, with Mounties losing wickets at regular intervals to be in deep trouble 6-90 chasing down the Eagles 219 runs.
With the score 6-90, play was suspended due to Cricket NSW Extreme Heat policy, which states that when the temperature reaches 42 degrees plus then play must stop. If the temperature does not drop to 38 degrees within an hour of being off, play must be abandoned.
With the temperature remaining around 42 degrees, in accordance with Cricket NSW policy, the umpires called off the remainder off the day’s play.
The best of the Eagles bowlers were S Qaiser 2-26, G Ebert 2-25, M Bursa 2-19.
Lower Grade Scores: Second Grade – Auburn 220 d Mounties 182 (T Marlin 3-16, A Diwan 2-32, P Randhawa 3-46); Third Grade – Auburn 6-136 v Mounties 170 (match abandoned due heat ) Match Drawn; Fourth Grade – Auburn 149 (A Bailey-Fong 33) lost to Mounties 8-217 dec; Fifth Grade – Auburn v Mounties (match abandoned due heat ) match draw.
Heat downs soaring Eagles
AFTER putting together a solid score of 219 on day one of its two-day match against Mt Pritchard-Southern Districts last week, Auburn District Cricket Club’s (Eagles) First Grade team was primed to go for maximum points on Saturday.
