Match called off at Dambulla due to rain
The tri-series cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was called off without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain at Dambulla today. The match will have a fresh start tomorrow which has been kept as a reserve day. There will also be a fresh toss, the organizers said. Heavy rain lashed the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium when the match was just about to start at 2:30pm local time and after New Zealand captain Ross Taylor won the toss and elected to bat.
Anticipating rain, the ground staff had kept most of the ground, including the pitch, under covers and there was a ray of hope for a truncated match after the downpour stopped for a while at around 4pm local time. But the heavens opened up again and with rain persisting the umpires called off the match at around 6:20pm. The umpires had earlier kept 8:15pm as the cut off time but seeing that there was no sign of rain abetting, they called off the match.
At the end of the first half of the tri-series, New Zealand and India are on five points with one win each from two matches and a bonus point. Sri Lanka are on four points.
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