Northerns not charmed by Boland replay
Trevor Chesterfield
22 November 1998
CENTURION (South Africa) - It could be a mistaken impression but there
is a view the United Cricket Board have rail-roaded Northerns into the
replaying of their A Section match against Boland next weekend.
Although this will be denied by the UCB, the decision to replay the
game after last weekend's Paarl pitch fiasco has not met with
universal approval at SuperSport Centurion, the venue for the
rescheduled four day game, the cost of which will now be paid for by
Boland.
At this stage it is not known what penalties Boland have incurred for
last weekend's abandoned match. Both sides had two points each. Under
the playing conditions, however, Boland could be fined R10,000, but
the UCB are expected to scrap what points either side earned.
Richard Harrison, the Northerns president, is, however, of the
opinion that ``although not ideal, it is the second best option of what
is an unscheduled match to accommodate a set of bad circumstances''.
The dates were accepted after consultation with the Northerns coach,
Peter Kirsten, and the team. It appears, however, that next weekend's
dates were the best on offer as the alternatives were unsatisfactory
and clash with test matches as well.
One set of dates had Northerns playing Boland in a Standard Bank
League match on December 4, a Friday, with the A Section match
starting the next day. It would have also meant a day's break between
playing that four-day game and the one against Western Province at
Newlands and Boland's against Natal.
Other dates were in the week between Christmas and the New Year when
the NCU are closed for the festive break.
``We have to look at this positively,'' Harrison said. ``We wanted full
point from the game as well as all the bowling points, but the UCB
turned that down when we had a meeting not too long after the game was
abandoned. ``The side has to back itself to win the game and we are
looking at collecting 18 points from it.''
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