Rain stalls Sri Lanka match
Cricket fans left frustrated after rain washes out day two of first Test against India.
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| Weather permiting, Sri Lanka will resume on 256-2 with Paranavitana on 110 [Reuters] |
Persistent rain has frustrated cricket fans in Sri Lanka after day two of the team’s first Test against India was abandoned due to bad weather.
Overnight showers left the field wet at the Galle International Stadium, delaying the morning start. A thunderstorm soon after ensured that there would be no play before lunch, and conditions worsened further.
The umpires scheduled an inspection at 2:30 pm (0900 GMT) as the skies cleared briefly, but another spell of heavy rain in the afternoon washed out any hope of play.
Twenty-two overs were lost due to rain on the first day in which Sri Lanka, opting to bat after winning the toss, made 256 for two with Tharanga Paranavitana batting on 110 and Mahela Jayawardene on eight.
Rain has been forecast on all five days of the match, which marks the final Test appearance for Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder.
The off-spinner needs eight scalps to reach the unprecedented 800-wicket mark, to build on his record haul of 515 one-day wickets.
India, the top-ranked Test side, are looking for their first series win in Sri Lanka in 17 years.