KANDY: Rain played spoilsport in the final Group A encounter of the Asia Cup, leading to a halt in the match between cricketing minnows Nepal and the formidable Indian team in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Monday.
Nepal, who had previously lost their tournament opener against Pakistan, found themselves at 178-6 in 37.5 overs after being asked to bat by their Indian counterparts.
The Asia Cup, a 50-over tournament, serves as a valuable preparatory event for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Unfortunately, rain has persistently interfered with the matches, prompting discussions among organizers about the possibility of changing venues for upcoming fixtures scheduled in Colombo.
India’s First Match Against Pakistan Suffer Same Fate
India’s inaugural match against Pakistan suffered the same fate, being abandoned due to inclement weather after just one innings. A victory or a no-result due to rain in this match would see the Asian giants advance to the Super Four stage.
At the time of the rain interruption, Dipendra Singh Airee was batting on 27, while Sompal Kami had scored 11 runs. As heavy rain forced the players off the field, the ground staff swiftly covered the entire playing area.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had made a significant impact for India, claiming three wickets. Aasif Sheikh had been the standout performer for Nepal, accumulating 58 runs before the rain brought an untimely pause to the proceedings.
