State Twenty20 match moved from Oamaru to Dunedin

The State Twenty20 match between the State Otago Volts and the State Auckland Aces scheduled to be played at Oamaru on Friday 13 February, has been moved to the University Oval, Dunedin.

The late change has been jointly agreed by New Zealand Cricket, Otago Cricket and North Otago Cricket after the NZC Turf manager, Jared Carter, assessed the pitch this morning.

Extreme temperatures over the past three days have drawn all moisture from the pitch and with rain forecast for the next three or four days, there was no way the pitch could have been safely re-hydrated and a quality surface guaranteed.

Otago Cricket CEO, Ross Dykes, said the Twenty20 competition is a premier event and it is essential that all matches be played on the best possible surfaces. “It is extremely unfortunate for North Otago who has worked tirelessly for some months to promote the event and who have had excellent support from the local body and Oamaru businesses,” he said.

“We are mindful of the fact that the Highlanders open their Super 14 season at Carisbrook on Friday evening and to that end, the cricket will start at 4pm to avoid any clash.”

Dykes added that with the Volts leading the Twenty20 competition and the Highlanders ready to launch a new season, it was hoped that the sporting public of Dunedin would get behind both events.