Rain washes out play on 2nd successive day

The second day’s play between Board President’s XI and Sri Lanka was called off on Thursday due to wet ground conditions. Play on Wednesday had been suspended due to unseasonal rains triggered by cyclone Phyan.

The second day’s play between Board President’s XI and Sri Lanka was called off on Thursday due to wet ground conditions. Play on Wednesday had been suspended due to unseasonal rains triggered by cyclone Phyan.

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The umpires inspected the ground at 1 pm and decided to call off play as the side wickets were wet and the outfield soft.

Ground staff could not dry the ground in time since the super sopper, deputed at the D Y Patil ground on Wednesday, did not reach MCA’s Bandra Kurla Complex by noon.

The Lanka team management requested the BCCI to allow them to leave for Ahmedabad a day early and call off the match. BCCI CAO Ratnakar Shetty confirmed that the Lankans’ request had been denied. “It is difficult to arrange for security and other logistics. Also only the second day’s play was called off.” The match could start at 9 am on Friday.

Sri Lanka team manager Brendon Kuruppu expressed disappointment at losing two days of practice ahead of the three-match Test series but said they were able to work due to the indoor facilities at the ground. Kuruppu also said that Tillakratne Dilshan, who sprained his ankle yesterday, batted indoors. But the final decision on his availability for the first Test would depend on how well he fares in fielding drills.