The Hindu : Lankans get a lifeline

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 07, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Lankans get a lifeline

By K. Keerthivasan

South African players return to the pavilion holding each other as the rain stopped play during their match against Sri Lanka in the Petro World Cup Cricket for the blind in Chennai on Friday. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI DEC. 6. Sri Lanka received a lifeline. Not from the umpires in the middle, or from the opposition but from an unlikely source — the rain gods.

With two defeats from two encounters, a diffident Lankan unit was up against a charged up Proteas in the Petro World Cup for the blind at the ICL-Guru Nanak College, here, on Friday when rain came to the former's rescue. The match was called off at 2 p.m. due to intermittent drizzle. The umpires Chris Ive (Australia) and Mahesh Atri (India) decided to abandon the match after three inspections. The teams shared two points each.

Sri Lanka, put in, made 66 for the loss of Lakshan Devapriya in 13.3 overs when rain forced the abandonment.

In another match at the CPT-IP ground between Australia and England, which is jocularly referred to as the `Ashes match', ended in a similar manner.

Only 48 minutes of play was possible at the ICL-Guru Nanak ground, Velachery. Some of the South African cricketers spent the waiting time with curious school children eager to know more about them. Adrian Maartens, Adrian Primo, the youngest in the team, and Raghunathan Naidoo had a light-hearted talk with the children.

The Pakistan team, which arrived late on Wednesday apparently due to visa problems, came to the Guru Nanak ground today and had lunch with the two competing teams. Before departing to their respective hotels, some South Africa cricketers had their photographs taken with their low-profile Lankan counterparts.

There was also enough time for the umpires, coaches and captains of the teams to give interviews to a television channel.

At CPT-IP, Australia, put inby England, was one for no loss with Raymond Moxly and Christopher Backstrom at the crease, when rain stopped play. The teams split four points.

The scores:

Sri Lanka 66 for one in 13.3 overs (R.P. Samantha Rajapaksha 28 not out) v South Africa. Match abandoned.

Australia 1 for no loss in 0.1 overs v England. Match abandoned.

Saturday's matches: England v Sri Lanka; Pakistan v South Africa; India v Australia.

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