For the second time in a year, India had to share a trophy due to rain. However, this time they will consider themselves lucky to have escaped from a very difficult situation. India were struggling at 46 for three in the 18th over of the TVS Cup final against South Africa after electing to bat first, when the rain came down.
The half-hour lashing was enough to leave puddles in the outfield. The super-sopper came rolling out, and later a helicopter was called up. The efforts appeared to yield results and by 6 p.m., the ground looked fit for play. And then, it started raining again.
Graeme Smith's team had the game under control and would feel wronged by the rain, which had robbed them of a place in the Super Six stage of the World Cup as well.
It was sunny when Smith and India skipper Sourav Ganguly walked out for the toss. There was not a hint of cloud on the horizon either, when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir went out to bat.
Even the Indian innings started off brightly with Gambhir and Sehwag hitting boundaries off Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini in the first two overs.
The clouds then started gathering, in the Indian innings as well as over the Bangabandhu Stadium. Pollock and Ntini hit the right line as the sun started faded away.
{{/usCountry}}The clouds then started gathering, in the Indian innings as well as over the Bangabandhu Stadium. Pollock and Ntini hit the right line as the sun started faded away.
{{/usCountry}}The big lights had to be put on in the afternoon itself and the two batsmen in the middle were clearly having trouble. Sehwag was completely bogged down and in a desperate attempt, struck out at Pollock giving a simple catch to Allan Dawson at mid-on. It was 19 for one in the seventh over and Ganguly walked out to join Gambhir.
The presence of his captain did little to soothe the Delhi youngster's nerve as he kept on trying to hit without caring to come in line. He paid the price when he slashed at a Ntini delivery away from his body and edged to second slip Neil McKenzie. Strong winds compounded the problems by blowing away the bails. Even Ganguly was troubled and play was briefly suspended.
Even after the force of the wind weakened, India found little relief. Pollock's spell of six overs had cost just 15 runs. Ntini was on fire at the other end, and he sent back Mohammad Kaif with a slower one.
Earlier, Kaif had snatched a boundary with a flick. But then, he did not have the patience to wait for the next bad ball. He tried to pull, mistimed and landed down Jacques Rudolph's throat at mid-on.