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Dangerous pitch forces abandonment of Red Force, Hurricanes clash
April 21, 2026
Posted 3 hours ago by
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC)—The second-round match between the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force was abandoned on the third day after it was determined that the pitch at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium was unfit and dangerous.The decision was made after on-field umpires Leslie Reifer and Zahid Bassarath suggested that play be stopped after Hurricanes’ batter Jeremiah Louis was struck by a delivery from fast bowler Jayden Seales.At the time, the home side was 140 for seven in their second innings, an overall lead of 96 runs.Following consultation with match referee Johnathan Blades, it was decided that the match would be abandoned in the interest of the players’ safety.Louis was reported to be in stable condition after being taken for medical treatment.In a subsequent statement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the decision was taken in accordance with the rules of the competition.“Cricket West Indies has announced that the second match of the Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago bilateral series in the 2026 West Indies Championship has been abandoned as a draw due to dangerous pitch conditions at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium.“Play was halted on the first session of the third day after the pitch began to exhibit unpredictable and uneven behaviour, raising serious concerns for player safety.
During this period, Leeward Islands player Jeremiah Louis was struck while batting. He was immediately attended to by medical personnel and subsequently transported to hospital to be evaluated for a possible concussion and is reported to be in stable condition,” the statement read.It said the decision to abandon the match was made in accordance with the official playing conditions governing the competition. Under these conditions, when on-field umpires determine that it is dangerous or unreasonable for play to continue, play must be stopped, and the CWI Match Referee consulted.“Following discussions with the curator, it was determined that the pitch could not be safely repaired without creating an unfair advantage and was therefore deemed unfit to resume, resulting in the match being abandoned as a draw. Both teams will be awarded points earned up until the abandonment of the contest in accordance with the championship’s playing conditions,” it further added.CWI said while the Sir Viv Richards Stadium was set to host the finals next month, it gave the assurance that the necessary work would be done to ensure it was in prime condition.“CWI further advises that no matches are scheduled at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium until the championship final, set for May 17–20, and confirms that all necessary resources and expertise will be deployed to ensure the preparation of a safe and competitive playing surface for that fixture. It is also important to note that the surface used for the Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago match is one of six pitches available at the venue and differs from the one used for match one of the Guyana vs Windward Islands series. CWI will continue to prioritise player safety while ensuring the highest standards of pitch preparation and match operations across all venues,” CWI said.
Jamaica Observer
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