rain abandons Sydney T20 after Finch blitzkrieg ! ~ Match Referee blamed

After over an hour off the field, the sides came back for 14 balls before taking a 20 minute innings break.  …. There has been sharp criticism on Match Referee allowing the 20 min break and not shortening the break !!   Wahab Riaz, player on  mike was frank to admit that rains were a blessing in disguise for the battered team.

Media reports suggested that Sydney's cloak of smoke will likely linger until Sunday as bushfires continue to blaze to the city's north, prompting authorities to extend health warnings about outdoor activity.  NSW Rural Fire Service said 66 grass and bushfires were still alight late Friday, with 40 yet to be contained. About 600,000 hectares of the state has been scorched since July 1 - more than twice the combined total of the past two seasons.  Sydney's air quality has hovered between poor to hazardous for most suburbs since Wednesday, ranking it at one point this week as the fifth most polluted major city in the world, according to the Airvisual website.

Meantime, Rugby Australia has announced that Test Rugby will return to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first time since 1986 when Australia takes on Ireland in 2020. The clash with Ireland sets up a cracking encore of the 2018 Ireland Series decider in Sydney, which was played in front of a then-record crowd at the former Allianz Stadium. The July 11 clash will be the second Test of a two-match series against Ireland on their 2020 tour of Australia.  The Ireland Series kicks off an exciting 2020 Test schedule as the next generation steps into the breach in a new era for the Wallabies. Australia last played Ireland at the SCG 40 years ago in 1979, with the only other battle between the two nations at the venue occurring in 1967.

 “The last time these two countries played in Sydney the Stadium and the whole Paddington and Moore Park precinct came to life and was flooded with fans wearing green and gold, not to mention the on-field action which went right down to the wire as Ireland pipped the Wallabies to win the Series.” Sydney Cricket Ground CEO, Kerrie Mather said: “The SCG is the original home of the Wallabies having hosted Australia’s very-first Test match in 1899.

This is more about the Series between Australia and Pakistan.  Media reports suggested for the day that parts of New South Wales were expected to see “explosive thunderstorm activity” today, while Sydneysiders and Canberrans are encouraged to be on watch for a run of wild weather.  The forecast for this afternoon marked the start of a potentially nasty three-part weather system lasting days.  The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Sydney on Sunday is a “near 100 per cent” chance of rain, developing in the afternoon and evening with a possible thunderstorm.  “At this stage, the most likely thing is it’s good news for people who need to get some water in their gardens and get a bit of water in the catchment areas,” Bureau forecaster Rob Taggart told news.com.au this morning. “Having said that, thunderstorms can sometimes do surprising things.” He said there are parts of Sydney where drainage is pretty poor and rainfall totals that are not usually considered severe can still put a lot of water on the road.

Aussies chasing – Aaron Finch and David Warner at the crease – Mohan Irfan bowling the 3^rd over of the innings. Chasing a revised 119 in 15 overs, after Pakistan's innings was interrupted after 12.4 overs, Aaron Finch laid into Mohammad Irfan's second over which cost 26 runs - including two sixes and a no-ball that went for four - and put them well ahead in the chase, with the wicketless par score after five overs being 33. 5^th ball was driven straight, Wahab had a long chase, went over the rope and touched the ball that was inside the boundary rope with his feet outside.  Another 4 !  ~ 26 runs off that over ..

Yet, Australia's winning run in T20Is was halted by the Sydney weather when they were on track to take the opening match against Pakistan which had already been truncated by rain. A frustrating finish to the first match of the T20 series against Pakistan has seen Australia miss a victory by just 11 balls after a bizarre decision thanks to rain. The Aussies were keen to continue their winning ways after romping to a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka to kick off the home summer and looked to continue the charge against Pakistan.

But the rain struck in the 13th over of the Pakistan innings, seemingly giving the Aussies the edge as the match was reduced to a 15-over match. After over an hour off the field, the sides came back for 14 balls before taking a 20 minute innings break. It could have been reduced to 10 minutes but reports emerged that the match referee chose not to shorten the break, with Australia falling 11 balls short of the required five second innings overs to constitute a match and have a result. It was a frustrating finish after 80 minutes had already been lost to rain earlier in the day.

According to the ICC’s playing conditions, the match referee has the option to shorten the break if he deems fit but match referee Javagal Srinath decided against the move.  .. .. probably he could not predict the Sydney weather

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

3^rd Nov 2019.