Terryn Fray, the Bailey’s Bay captain, has hit out at the Bermuda Cricket Board and the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association after no umpires were assigned for the possible title-deciding Twenty20 match against Cleveland County at Sea Breeze Oval last weekend.

Bay went into the final round five points behind leaders Southampton Rangers. Their 11am match with Cleveland did not go ahead because no umpires were appointed, leaving the two teams to play a practice match instead. The situation would have been made worse had St George’s upset Rangers in the 3pm match at Wellington Oval.

Such was the shortage that Roger Dill and Alex Knight, who umpired the 11am match at Lord’s between the home team and Flatts Victoria, travelled to Wellington Oval to officiate in the St George’s against Rangers match.

“It was a little disheartening and once again the players are being let down,” Fray said. “We had an issue early in the season where certain umpires should umpire depending on the level and importance of the match.

“Here we are, with an important match between Bay and Cleveland that could have decided the T20, depending on what took place at St George’s, but no umpires [were assigned].

“We have a match that is incomplete, won’t be rescheduled, but whether it is the BCB or the umpires, something has to be done. There needs to be improvements to make sure that these matches are being played.”

Bay were keen to play the match to put pressure on Rangers to win their game.

“We’re hoping to see some improvements, especially with Cup Match and the Eastern Counties,” Fray added.

“These things are beyond our control, but we just hope that with the things that can be controlled, that those standards are being kept up.”

James McKirdy, the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association president, said the shortage was made worse as some umpires were not available last weekend.

“When faced with a shortage, we try to rotate the umpires with the teams that are playing so that no one team has to face repeated or continual instances of not having umpires assigned,” said McKirdy, who took over as president in May.

“We had several umpires last weekend and the weekend before who were overseas, either on holiday, business or attending the West Indies Umpires Convention in Barbados.

“Several of our members are serving police officers and they have work commitments.”