27.8.2008
Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka’s hopes of leveling the five match series took a severe blow when heavy rain forced a postponement for the fourth day night one day international against the touring Indian team at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

The match will now be worked off today at the same venue as a day night fixture weather permitting.

The umpires Billy Doctrove and Gamini Silva in consultation with the match referee Chris Broad decided to call off the game at around 6.00 p.m.

The rain of course started around thirty minutes before the scheduled start of play leaving the outfield at the Premadasa Stadium damp. The covers were on and the bad weather continued until late evening with the Indian team moving to their hotel very much early in anticipation of the match been called off.

However the Sri Lankan team who are desperate to level the series decided to stay on until the end. Sri Lanka are trailing 1-2 and need to win the remaining two matches if they are to win the series and complete a double following their success in the three test series last month.

In case the match is not played even on the reserve day (today) the two teams will head to the fifth and final one day international on Friday at the same venue under lights with India assured of not losing the series.

Daily News