Rain plays spoilsport, but silver lining for Chargers

Match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers was called off without even a ball being bowled after a thunderstorm accompanied with heavy rain lashed the Eden Gardens.Somshuvra Laha reports.

Did somebody perform a rain dance in the Deccan Chargers dressing room at the Eden Gardens? Dejected by five consecutive losses and exhausted by the merciless travel, the Chargers lugged themselves into Kolkata searching for that elusive win, 24 hours of being beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders.

The--Eden-Gardens-full-of-rain-water-after--a--thunderstorm-before-the-match-between-KKR-and-Decan-Chargers-HT-Photo-Subhendu-Ghosh

But they might not have to go out on the field to get their first points of the IPL V. The heavens opened up 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the match and within half an hour turned the ground to a puddle.

Four super soppers were deployed to clear the water but umpires felt the outfield was too soggy and dangerous after a 10.15pm inspection. This is the first washed out match of this edition.

Structure flattened
Such was the intensity of the rain that the venue operating centre, a temporary structure that mainly houses police personnel, was flattened, injuring three people who had taken shelter there. According to an official release by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), all three have been discharged after medical examination. KKR would feel undone after splitting points. They are now second, behind Delhi Daredevils, with nine points from eight matches. They were at top of their game, chasing down small totals on difficult pitches and the Chargers would have been perfect opponents for them.