Australia's JLT One-Day Cup match abandoned due to unsafe pitch

In a strange turn of events, Australia's domestic List A competition JLT Cup's encounter between New South Wales and Victoria Bushrangers was abandoned due to an unsafe pitch. The 50-over encounter saw the team from New South Wales bundle out on 144 in the first innings, in reply to which, the Bushrangers had added 108 runs in 26 overs when the play stopped.

The Bushrangers were announced winners of the match, which was being played at the North Sydney Oval, NSW's home ground, by 35 runs.

Confirmation that the #JLTCup match has been abandoned due to an unsafe pitch. Vics win on DLS Method. No decision made on bonus point yet pic.twitter.com/mEsr0W3HHH

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) October 15, 2017

Led by Peter Handscomb, the Bushrangers didn't allow NSW to flex their muscles and got the first breakthrough in the fourth over itself. Despite a brief partnership of 40 runs between Nick Maddinson and Kurtis Patterson, the home team's batsmen failed to put up a show, with number 11 Doug Bollinger being their highest scorer with 30 runs.

With Mitchell Starc in their ranks, NSW were hoping to make things difficult for the Victorians and the World Cup winner didn't disappoint. In a six-over long first spell, the left-hander picked three wickets to give his team a head start. However, none of his teammates managed to lend him a helping hand and by the time the match was forced to stop, Bushrangers were 35 runs ahead of the required Duckworth-Lewis target.

Bulk confusion at North Sydney Oval with the match abandoned due to an unsafe pitch. Official update to come... #JLTCup

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) October 15, 2017

So pitch was safe when @CricketNSWBlues batted? Makes no sense. All officials involved should be fired immediately.

— Andrew Jones (@acxjones) October 15, 2017

JUST IN: @bushrangers WILL receive a bonus point and today's results mean defending champs NSW have been knocked out of this year's #JLTCup

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) October 15, 2017

Previous instances

This is not the first instance of a match being stopped due to the poor condition of the pitch. Previously, international cricket matches have been abandoned due to similar reasons as well. Famously in December 2009, an ODI encounter between India and Sri Lanka was suspended after the pitch was termed unsafe to play on. The match officials then stated the pitch had "extremely variable bounce and too dangerous for further play".

Unfortunately, Tillakaratne Dilshan was struck on the elbow as well, due to the irregular bounce.

Notably, in 2015, a tour match between Cricket Australia XI and New Zealand was abandoned because of the state of the pitch. That match was being played in Sydney as well, however, at the Blacktown International Sportspark.

Two test matches, in 1997-98 at the Sabina Park and in 2009 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, between England and West Indies, were suspended due to poor condition of the pitch as well.