NORTH Albury has been cleared of any wrong-doing after an investigation into a Bunton Park pitch.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An independent panel investigated the second day of the two-day Cricket Albury-Wodonga provincial clash between the Hoppers and Albury on December 5.
The Hoppers won the toss and made 7-286 from their 80 overs on the first day. Albury was then bowled out for 83 on the second day before the home side went on the finish their second innings at 3-150.
The panel also looked into a second grade clash between North Albury and Lavington in mid-December, which the Hoppers won by just eight runs.
If found guilty of pitch tampering, the Hoppers could have been stripped of points and fined.
Cricket Albury-Wodonga chairmain Mick Erdeljac said the Hoppers had no case to answer.
“The wicket was playable,” Erdeljac said.
“To be fair to North Albury, the issue was more with the run-ups than the actual pitch itself.
“The run-ups are an issue that North Albury have been asked to address and they will address that for us.”
The run-ups are an issue that North Albury have been asked to address and they will address that for us
- CAW chairman Mick Erdeljac
A loss of points could have had dire consequences for North Albury, who are poised to replace Albury in the top six with victory this weekend.
The Hoppers put a whopping 367 on the board against East Albury and will be supremely confident of defending that at Alexandra Park.
Rob Hartnett and Daniel Athanitis have claimed 30 scalps between them this season and loom as key players with the ball for North Albury.
Albury would need to manufacture an outright victory against St Patrick’s to hold its place in the top six if the Hoppers down the Crows.
Patties will resume at 6-99 in pursuit of Albury’s 102 at Xavier Oval, with first innings points seemingly a mere formality.
Belvoir will ramp up its pursuit of outright points against Wodonga Raiders at Kelly Park but will be sweating on fast bowler Matt Jaensch’s availability ahead of the finals.
Jaensch was hit with a one-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute during the Eagles’ loss to St Patrick’s on January 16.
He successfully appealed that verdict to take his place against the Raiders but CAW’s investigations panel has challenged the finding.
A CAW country tribunal will now hear the matter at the Commercial Club on Tuesday night.
Tallangatta must chase down Lavington’s 185 at Rowen Park to keep its hopes of finishing on top of the table alive.
Just 0.24 points separates the teams on the ladder and Tallangatta will look to Matt Armstrong, Greg McGillivray and Trent Ball to get the job done with the bat.
Wodonga will resume at 1-40 in pursuit of New City’s 127 at Les Cheesley Oval.
