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Cricket PlayersIndia vs South Africa first ODI highlights: Rain in Dharamsala washes out match without a ball being bowled
India vs South Africa 1st ODI: Follow highlights of IND vs SA 1st ODI at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
India vs South Africa 1st ODI: Heavy rains washed out IND vs SA first ODI at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday. It looked well and good even half an hour before toss but once it started raining, it never really allowed the groundsmen to return and do the damage-control. This is now the second match in a row which has been washed out in Dharamsala without a ball being bowled. The last match was also an India-South Africa affair last year in September. The three-match series now effectively becomes a two-match affair. The next two ODIs are slated to be played in Lucknow on Mar 15 and in Kolkata on Mar 18 and as per the Indian Govt’s advisory, they are likely to be played within closed doors.
India vs South Africa 1st ODI at Dharamsala
17:22 hrs: THE MATCH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF due to rains in Dharamsala.
17:10 hrs: The covers are still on, the announcement is just minutes away.
17:02 hrs: Remaining two matches of India-South Africa ODI series likely to be played in empty stadiums due to COVID-19 threat: BCCI source told PTI.
16:54 hrs: It has started to drizzle again.
16:41 hrs: The rain has stopped and two Super Soppers out there but it has turned dark again at Dharamsala. It will need an herculean task to get a game from this situation.
16:30 hrs: Still drizzling! The ground has been completely covered for the past couple of hours or so and the light drizzle has ensured it stays that way.
16:12 hrs: It has almost stopped raining in Dharamsala, ALMOST! But is it too late? And we can’t even guarantee that it won’t comeback to dash our hopes. If it stays like this then we might just be able to sneak in a game. Remember the cut-off time is 6:30 for a 20-over game.
16:02 hrs: Live visuals are not at all promising from Dharamsala. The entire ground is under wraps and it is still raining, not as heavy as it was a few minutes ago but enough to keep everyone including the groundsmen away from the field.
15:51: Our correspondent Khurram Habib says, it is unlikely that we’re going to have a game today. It is pelting down at Dharamsala right now.
15:45 hrs: The rain had just stopped for a brief period but even before we could finish the update, it returned again.The crowds have slowly started to made their way out. They know it is now very difficult to get a game.
15:28 hrs: There is still nothing to update as rain is still coming down hard at the venue. Covers are still on and gloomy faces in the stands still there.
15:20 hrs: Just to remind you, the cut off time for a 20 over match is 6:30 PM. If by then rain doesn’t relent then the match will be called off.
15:11 hrs: The latest update from our correspondent Khurram Habib from Dharamsala.
15:05 hrs: We have officially started to lose overs now. We will lose an over for every four minutes of no play from now on.
15:00 hrs: Cut-off time - Chances of getting a full 50-over game is pretty much out of the equation now. Meanwhile the cut-off for a 20-over game is 6:30 pm. So we still have a good 3 and a half hours to go for that.
14:55 hrs: Rain returns! Just when it was looking all okay, the covers were being removed and we were hoping for an official update about the toss, dark clouds have returned and it has started to rain again. This doesn’t look good at all.
14:25 hrs: Rain has stopped for now, we are waiting for the groundstaff to remove the covers. Things have just started to clear up in Dharamsala. But we will have to wait for the official inspection.
14:05 hrs: Our correspondent Khurram Habib brings the live pictures from Dharamsala.
13:49 hrs: Dharamsala weather update - The rain seems to have relented for now but the dark clouds are still hovering over the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala. The groundsmen haven’t removed the covers yet, looks like they are suspecting more rain soon.
13:40 hrs: Meanwhile, the IPL governing council is slated meet on March 14 to decide the fate of IPL 2020 due the outbreak of coronavirus. Due to the Indian government’s decision of not granting visas till April 15 (barring certain diplomatic exceptions), the foreign players participation have been in jeopardy.
13:33 hrs: Rain gets heavier! This is not good news at all. It is pouring down now at Dharamsala and the groundstaff are running here and there to bring in more covers. The floodlights have switched on.
13:30 hrs: The last encounter! We might be hated for this piece of information but the last match in Dharamsala was a washout and any guesses who were the two teams? It was India and South Africa, the only difference that time was that it was a T20I. Well, we really hope history doesn’t repeat itself this time around.
13:26 hrs: Hardik Pandya is set to make a comeback for India, that is if the rain allows play in the first ODI. The all-rounder has been away from international cricket for close to six months. But he is up and running now. He was seen going about his business even an hour earlier.
13:21 hrs: The umbrellas are out! Even as we spoke about the stands being empty, about a few hundred have trickled in and they are making a lot of noise, more in anticipation than in anything else. Meanwhile, more covers are being brought in, not a good news.
13:12 hrs: Rain returns! Just minutes before the inspection, the rain has returned in Dharamsala and it has turned very dark. More covers have been brought in. Doesn’t look like we’re gonna have the inspection any time soon.
13:08 hrs: Empty stands! The fear has just into a reality. There were reports of more than 40% tickets going unsold and so far that has turned out to be true and in fact, the majority of the 60% too seems to have decided to give the first India vs South Africa ODI at Dharamsala a miss. The stands are largely even as we near scheduled start of play.
13:04 hrs: Dharamsala weather report - There are chances of rain around 2 pm and again in the evening between 4 and 5 pm. So we can expect a stop and start game between India and South Africa today.
12:58 hrs: Pitch report! ‘This is a typical Indian pitch, the batsmen will enjoy themselves. Nothing much in it for the new-ball bowlers, the finger spinners will not enjoy this surface as much as the wrist spinners, it looks very dry and it’s a bat-first pitch,’ reckon Sunil Gavaskar and Murali Kartik, in their pitch report.
12:52 hrs: Shouldn’t be a long delay! There was rain on Wednesday evening and night, which has made it difficult for the groundstaff to make the outfield ready on time but thankfully there has been no rain this morning. The players are out there and so are the umpires. We shouldn’t be away from live action for long.
12:48 hrs: Toss delayed due to wet outfield! Inspection to take place at 1:15 pm.
12:42 hrs: The Men Blue had arrived at the HPCA Stadium a little while ago.
12:40 hrs: Rain threat! Coronavirus is not the only concerns for the HPCA authorities, according to Dharamsala’s weather forecast, there is more than 60% chances of rain around 3 pm today. The toss is expected to tkae place at 1 pm with the first ball taking place at 1:30.
12:35 hrs: Coronavirus threat! The COVID-19 has hit sporting tournaments across the globe with NBA cancelling the league and some matches of LA Liga and Champions League being played behind closed doors. The ripples have been felt in Dharamsala too as ticket sales remained one of the lowest in recent times.
12:30 hrs: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the IND vs SA 1st ODI at the picturesque HPCA stadiun in Dharamsala.
