From rxpgnews.com
Third day's India-Bangladesh Test called off due to rain
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS,
May 20, 2007 - 12:27:16 PM
Chittagong, May 20 - The entire third day's play in the first India-Bangladesh cricket Test was called off Sunday after persistent early morning rain made the ground slushy and unplayable. The five-day match is headed for a tame draw.
Umpires Daryl Harper of Australia and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies decided to call off play taking into consideration the weather and ground conditions at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium here.
India had scored 384 for the loss of six wickets in their first innings on a rain-curtailed second day Saturday. A soggy outfield had allowed only 20 overs towards the end of the day when the sun finally broke through the dark clouds.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, however, duly completed their centuries before the premature end of play.
Rains also hit the first day because 13 of the 90 stipulated overs for a day could not be bowled. And only 20 overs were possible Saturday. A total of 173 overs have been lost over the first three days, and the match is sure to end in a draw.
'Taking into consideration the ground conditions and the weather, the umpires decided to call off play. They have informed the two teams accordingly,' announced Rabeed Imam, Bangladesh Cricket Board media manager.
The rain started before dawn Sunday and continued to lash the port city when the announcement to call off the play was made. The second and final Test starts in Dhaka May 25.
Earlier, India had won the rain-marred three-match One-day International series 2-0.
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