Ground staff sets pitch on fire after rain in Namibia vs Scotland World Cup League 2 match [In Picture]

Ground staff set the pitch on fire. (Credits: Cricket Scotland X)
Ground staff set the pitch on fire. (Credits: Cricket Scotland X)

Ground staff unusually set the pitch on fire after rain before the start of the ICC World Cup League 2 match between Namibia and Scotland at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City, Ontario. Footage of the incident appeared on social media, but despite efforts, the match had to be abandoned.

Ad

The match had already been delayed due to rain, and multiple inspections occurred, with the latest starting time for the game scheduled for 9:02 PM. A few minutes later, Cricket Scotland's official handle on X posted pictures of ground staff setting the wicket on fire to apparently dry it out. The match ultimately had to be called off.

Ad

Both witnessed contrasting outcomes in their previous matches. Namibia defeated Canada by five wickets, while the Scottish team lost to The Netherlands by four wickets despite scoring 369. The Dutch chased down the target with four balls to spare.


Namibia and Scotland at the opposite ends of the points table

Namibia cricket team. (Credits: Getty)
Namibia cricket team. (Credits: Getty)

Both sides also find themselves at opposite ends of the points table in the ICC World Cup League 2 tournament. Despite a heartbreaking defeat to The Netherlands, Scotland, led by Matthew Cross, is third in the points table with 11 wins and seven losses in 21 matches, including three no-result matches. Meanwhile, Namibia is struggling at sixth spot after 13 losses and only eight wins in their 22 fixtures. The United States of America (USA) holds the top spot, with 14 wins in 20 games.

Ad

Both Scotland and Namibia will face Canada next, on August 31 and September 2, respectively. Despite Namibia being the co-host of the 2027 World Cup, they are not guaranteed to participate. Both teams will be eager to improve their chances of qualifying for the tournament. Their last appearance in a 50-over World Cup was in 2003.

The Scottish team, meanwhile, last played in the 2015 edition.

Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️

Quick Links

Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications