Taxi's mistimed drive halts cricket match

Cricketers everywhere can appreciate a good straight drive, but nobody was left laughing when a cabbie drove straight on to a cricket field and parked his vehicle mid-pitch in Brisbane yesterday.

In Queensland's Warehouse Cricket Association B1 fixture between Macgregor and Griffith University, a straight hit from Macgregor's Nigel Sherborne went sailing over the rope - and smashed the windscreen of the parked cab.

The unhappy cabbie decided to vent his anger and between innings drove his vehicle onto the field at DM Henderson Park. He parked it smack bang in the middle of the pitch before Griffith could start their innings.

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On the drive: taxi parks mid-pitch // Ben Carlton

"Nigel hit a straight drive off Tom English for six smashing into a parked cabbie," Macgregor secretary Troy Burns wrote on the club's Facebook page.

"Not happy and in protest he then drove onto the field and parked in the centre of the pitch."

The Queensland Police had to be called to get the driver to move his vehicle, and the game had lost eight overs before play could resume.

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Clubhouse view of cabbie's pitch invasion // Facebook

Worse was to come for Macgregor, however, and seven overs into the delayed second innings wicketkeeper Brett 'BJ' Bednarski was hit by a follow through from a hook shot.

The scary situation had a happy ending however, with Bednarski cleared of any serious damage.

"News on BJ is positive with nothing broken, just stitches to his face," Burns wrote, adding the player had "just stitches to the deep gash and one sore head".

With plenty of time lost in the second innings and all players concerned for the injured wicketkeeper, Macgregor conceded the match.

"Hopefully next week against Everton is drama free," wrote Burns.

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The damaged windscreen // Ben Carlton