NORTHLAND cricketers are hopeful, but not particularly optimistic, about the chances of play tomorrow in the Whangarei Cricket two-day competition. The past three weeks of the Saturday competition have been cancelled due to rain-soaked pitches and this weekend doesn't look much brighter. Ground conditions have forced the one-day final, scheduled for Sundayat Cobham Oval between Kaipara Flats and City, to be postponed until January. Tomorrow's matches will need a bucketful of sunshine today, if they are to have any chance of getting under way. The matches have all been moved to artificial wickets but that is no guarantee that there will be play. "There's a distinct possibility that there may not be play this weekend," competition administrator Bruce Scott said. "The grounds are wetter than ever and we haven't been able to use machinery on them. If they dry out a bit we might have a chance of play but cricket's not a game that you can bowl with [the ball acting like] a piece of soap," he said. The conditions of the bowlers' run-ups are also a big consideration as to whether the game can go ahead or not. The first day of the current round was lost to rain last weekend so, should play get under way, the two-day game will turn into a straight one-day shoot-out. There are 100 overs available to the teams - with the team batting first able to bat for a maximum of 55 overs. There are five divisions, including Third Grade, of senior competition on standby, with each division made up of four teams.
