India vs SA: Third day’s play washed out

Despite rains, fans queue up outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the hope of watching the third day’s play in Bengaluru on Monday. — R. SAMUEL

For the second successive day, the only on-field action was the sight of groundsmen bravely trying to clear the water off the turf. And for the first time, the M. Chinnaswamy stadium witnessed a second straight washout as the third day’s play was called off owing to incessant rain that began on Sunday morning.

The umpires Ian Gould and Richard Kettleborough didn’t let the fans agonise too long, signalling abandonment of play without a ball being bowled, at 11.30 am. Back in 2001, against England, almost two days of match had been washed out with Nasser Hussain’s men facing just 7.1 overs in their second innings before the fourth and and fifth day’s play were abandoned leading to a draw.

For the record, only about 15 overs of play was possible on the fourth day before the Indian innings ended after which England openers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick were out in the middle for just over half an hour before play ended.

Sachin Tendulkar’s 90 was the corner stone of the game, a dull, dreary draw as it turned out to be with England scoring 336 and India replying with 238 before the match shut shop with the visitors at 33/0 on the fourth day.

It shouldn’t be that de Villiers’ 85 is destined to end in a similar manner but unless the conditions improve dramatically, a repeat of 2001 is on the cards here.