JER Lane have been awarded the points from their Spenser Wilson Halifax League home match against Northowram Hedge Top on Saturday, May 20.

The umpires had notified both teams that, following an inspection of the ground, the match would start at 4.05pm – the latest that any game can start according to league rules.

However, the match had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled due to Hedge Top's opening batsmen failing to arrive at the crease.

Both teams were originally awarded two points each for an abandonment but Jer Lane put in an official complaint over Hedge Top's tardiness.

The league executive received reports from both clubs and the umpires surrounding the sequence of events on the day and, in addition, studied the match report form signed by both umpires and, purportedly, signed by both captains.

After careful consideration and deliberation, the executive decided that the original two points to each club be voided and 12 points awarded to Jer Lane, with nil points to Northowram Hedge Top.

The umpires, in any match, have sole control of applying the rules concerning ground conditions etc and on this occasion ruled that play would start at 4.05pm – but it did not.

This was one of the main aspects in reaching the decision.

The league executive stated that it is sad when the result of a match has to be decided in the committee room and trusts that all clubs and umpires reflect on this case and ensure that such a situation does not arise again.