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Weathermen predict rain
Weathermen predicted thunderstorms on Friday that may affect the second one-day international between Sri Lanka and England.
Weathermen predicted thunderstorms on Friday that may affect the second one-day international between Sri Lanka and England, with the visitors desperately needing a win to stay in contention.
"We fear that it will rain in the afternoon, primarily it will be thunderstorms" said T.P. Karivasam of Colombo's weather office. The day-and-night match is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. (0830 GMT).
The western part of Sri Lanka, where Colombo is located, is on the last leg of the northwest monsoon and it has been raining almost every day.
Practice was canceled on Thursday, and grounds crews were busy on Friday mopping up water.
If no play is possible, the match will be played Saturday and the final on Sunday, said Ray Illangakoon, the spokesman for the Sri Lankan cricket board.
To make it a match, at least 25 overs must be bowled. Sri Lankan cricketers say they expect a stronger challenge from England following their 10-wicket loss earlier this week. "I think the defeat ... will definitely wake them up," Sri Lankan coach John Dyson told reporters ahead of the match, the second in a series of three. Another loss for England would put it out of contention.
After their humiliating defeat Tuesday, England skipper Michael Vaughan vowed to bounce back and square the series. England's right-arm paceman James Kirtley will replace injured James Anderson in the match.
Sri Lanka went in with three pace bowlers Tuesday, two of them making their debuts. The trio took seven wickets to dismiss England for 88 _ their second lowest total in a one-dayer.
