Power cut forces Big Bash abandonment at the Gabba

According to the result predictor WinViz, Sydney Thunder's chances of victory over Brisbane Heat were 95 per cent at that point but they will have to make do with a share of the points instead

A power failure has caused a Big Bash game to be abandoned.

The meeting between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder at the Gabba was halted during the second innings after two of the stadium's floodlights and much of the grandstand lighting in one area of the ground went out.

As the electricity supply was not restored prior to the cut-off time (10.11pm local) the match was called off as per the competition's playing conditions.

That came as a major boost for Brisbane, who were facing an nigh-on impossible task of chasing the game. Having conceded 186 for 4 in the field, with Shane Watson making a blistering century, they had been reduced to 10 for 2 in the third over when darkness arrived.

According to the result predictor WinViz, Thunder's chances of victory were 95 per cent at that point but they may well have to make do with a share of the points instead.

^{Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat players and officials in discussion}

Shane Bond, the Sydney franchise's head coach, was frustrated that the umpires did not take up his offer to only bowl his spinners for the remainder of the Heat innings.

"We think it's safe enough to play," he told Fox Sports. "The word is that Brisbane had to agree to it. They have said no, obviously being in trouble.

"We've said we'll bowl our spinners because we want a game of cricket and clearly we're in a stronger position.

"The umpires have said 'we're going to lean with Brisbane, we think it's unsafe'. I think that's poor, the lights are fine in terms of the boundary, we've said we'll bowl only spinners. We want to play a game of cricket.

"If we were in the same position and we were offered the same thing we would probably say yes. We would like the umpires to make a decision, as they do when it's wet in terms of safety. 

"We play in the rain when sometimes we think it's unsafe and we're told to play on. I think the umpires could make a decision on the light and I think if we play with just spinners then the light is fine.

Floodlight failure caused the match to be abandoned

"Apparently one of our fielders might cop one in the head or someone in the crowd might cop one. I think the light's okay."

Heat coach Daniel Vettori, meanwhile, felt the officials had made the correct decision in attempting to ensure playing conditions were equal for both sides.

"They've only got spin so that's an easy choice for them. What we're talking about is the consistency of the game, and the umpires came off and said the conditions weren't good enough, so that's where we stand as well," he said.

"Obviously they're in an incredible good position and they want to get out there and play. I'd like to think that if we were in the same situation we'd want to stay consistent. Even if it's only spinners it's still hard to see the ball and I think that's the main thing. The batsmen can't pick up the seam and it's just a little bit trickier. We just want it to be even the whole way through."