Ballyspallen concede NWCU Premier League match to Eglinton after printer failure

Ballyspallen conceded their North West Cricket Union Premier League match against Eglinton at Ballyspallen in Northern Ireland on Saturday after a printer failure prevented production of a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculation. Eglinton were awarded the victory without a further ball being bowled.

Eglinton had been all out for 159 in 48.1 overs before rain interrupted the hosts' reply. The hosts were on 19, just two overs into their response, when the weather arrived at Ballyspallen. Overs were set to be lost and officials declared that the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method was to be calculated.

A broken printer meant that a DLS sheet could not be produced. North West Cricket Union regulations state the team which hosts the match will immediately concede the game if a DLS sheet cannot be produced to both sides and umpires. That provision formed the basis for the match being conceded following the technical fault.

The regulations also state that the home club should have "a computer loaded with the necessary software, a compatible and operational printer with a sufficient supply of paper and ink, and a proficient operator". The NWCU adds that it should be "operational" prior to the start of the match.

Ballyspallen's technical hiccup denied them a chance of a fifth win in the Premier League and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.