The third England-Ireland ODI – the final international of the 2023 summer – was brought to a premature end after a brief but torrential downpour in Bristol rendered the surface unplayable as local groundstaff battled unsuccessfully to adequately cover the pitch and the surrounding areas.
England appeared to be on track for a record-breaking start with opener Phil Salt getting off to a record-breaking start and No. 4 Ben Duckett hitting a 72-ball 100.
Sam Hain attempted a pull shot to middle-on at the end of the 31st over and sank over the last ball of the summer international, becoming the fourth wicket to fall.
After Haynes’ wicket fell, heavy rain was forecast for a short period of time, and it rained for most of the day, so the players were unable to cover the pitch, but the heavy rain covered the pitch. Ground staff struggled to cover the pitch as the area was flooded with water.
Due to strong winds, grounds staff had difficulty covering the pitch quickly due to heavy rain. While the ground staff struggled to defend the pitch, other areas were ignored, with it taking more than 10 minutes to defend the run-up area at Ashley Down Road at the end of the pitch. Overnight rain also increased the likelihood that the ground would become unplayable due to flooding.
The match was called off 33 minutes after the rain started, and referee Paul Reiffel, after a quick inspection, immediately suggested that the match was impossible, although more than six hours of play could still be played. Met. The rain stopped a few minutes after the decision was made. Fans are not entitled to a refund as more than 30 overs were bowled.
At this stage, Gloucestershire have not made a statement regarding the early cancellation of the match. The county is scheduled to host the ODI between England and Australia on September 29 next year.
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