``It was almost there. It was probably a day away,'' South Canterbury Cricket Association executive director Noel Dellow said yesterday. He expected a meeting with New Zealand Cricket this week after the Pakistan A-Northern conference series match at Aorangi Park was abandoned on the second of its scheduled four days.

It was the first time a first-class match had to be abandoned in New Zealand because of the wicket.

Dellow said the wicket had dried out quickly after a lot of recent rain in Timaru. He believed an extra day to water the pitch down would have made it acceptable.

Dellow said he hoped it would not affect Timaru's chances of hosting future first-class games.

Volunteers ran the sport in Timaru and it was important that NZC encouraged them to ensure the sport maintained a base throughout the country.