Vijay Hazare Trophy: Damp outfield abandons Uttarakhand-Chandigarh game

The contest was initially delayed for half an hour and reduced to 47-overs per side. But just two deliveries later, the players returned to their dugout.

The weather has been rainy in Dehradun for the past few days.(File Photo)

Thanks to prominent wet patches in the outfield and inadequate drainage facilities, the Vijay Hazare Trophy contest between Uttarakhand and Chandigarh was washed out at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.

The contest was initially delayed for half an hour and reduced to 47-overs per side. But just two deliveries – including a no-ball – were bowled, after which the players left the field and returned to their dugouts. Chandigarh won the toss and chose to field, perhaps to make use of a possible lingering seam movement in the morning. The area that made up the run-up was considerably wet, however, forcing what turned out to be a permanent break.

The umpires and the match referee made numerous of inspections, but play couldn’t be resumed on time for even a 20-over dash. The match was eventually called off officially at around 1.45 pm.  Sportstar  could not gather their observations on the scenario as the match referee refused to talk. No player or support staff from either team could be reached for an official debriefing either.

The washout was surprising as the day had been pleasant and largely devoid of rain, expect for a spell of showers that lasted less than five minutes. It was the overnight rain, however, that proved to be the impediment; no matter how much sand was being applied, the rain slush could not be prevented from coming up on the surface.

The weather has been rainy in Dehradun for the past few days. On Tuesday afternoon, it rained heavily for a considerable period; that, too, could have contributed to the problem. However, the drainage facilities weren’t the best; nearby, at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, a private facility, a 28-overs-aside combat could be accommodated between Puducherry and Meghalaya.

Chandigarh will still have to wait for its first full contest in the tournament. It plays Meghalaya at the Tanush Academy Ground here on September 28.

Uttarakhand plays its next match at the same venue, a day earlier. It will take on Assam.