Super Smash 2018-19: Play stops in Central Stags vs Canterbury Kings game for a bizarre reason

It is not always bad weather or rain that disrupts a game of cricket. The sun and its bright light, which is one of the prime requirements for having a full game, could also become a reason for suspending a game. That’s possible only if the pitch is laid unscientifically, i.e., in the East-West direction instead of North-South, causing disturbance for the batsmen both in the morning and night.

On Saturday, a match of the Super Smash T20 tournament in New Zealand between Central Stags and Canterbury Kings in Napier was halted during the seventh over since the sun was blazing down right behind the bowler’s (leg-break spinner Todd Astle) arm, distracting the batsmen (Dean Foxcroft on strike and Will Young). The two batsmen retired temporarily into the pavilion to return only after the sun moved.

The Stags though never allowed the halt affect their focus and ended with 225 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. Both Foxcroft and Young hit half centuries with the latter remaining not out on 89 off just 50 deliveries. Astle returned rewardless in the match with no wickets for 44 runs in four overs.

A similar issue with the light happened in the Big Bash League in Brisbane in Australia recently where play between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder was halted because of a power outage.

Here is the video of the incident from Super Smash:

pic.twitter.com/k7BvHGnTH4

— Mushfiqur Fan (@NaaginDance) January 19, 2019

India will play their first ODI vs Black Caps at the same venue

India will be playing their first ODI against the Black Caps at the same venue (McLean Park) where sun forced a temporary halt of play on Saturday. Pitches are generally laid in the North-South direction but there are stadiums in the world where the East-West practice is in vogue, making it potentially challenging for the batsmen as well as the wicket-keepers.

Canterbury keeper Tom Latham, who plays for New Zealand national side, put down a catch of Foxcroft in the same over during which the game was stopped in Napier perhaps because he too was facing a problem in locating the ball after it left the bowler’s fingers.

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