21 September,2017 08:36 AM IST | Kanpur | Santosh Suri
As was feared, the elements caught up with the Duleep Trophy match between India Green and Blue, as the second day was washed out after an hour's rain yesterday afternoon
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As was feared, the elements caught up with the Duleep Trophy match between India Green and Blue, as the second day was washed out after an hour's rain yesterday afternoon. Though the ground was fully covered with plastic sheets, lack of proper drainage at Green Park meant that there was no way where the ground staff could make conditions playable.
For the second successive year, the Duleep Trophy has been scheduled in the north when the monsoon has yet to recede. Thus, there was an omnipresent threat of rain, and that has come true. In the previous match too, a day's play was lost after just half an hour of rain. There was plenty of water on the covers and with no way of draining it out, a prompt start today is doubtful. One feels sorry for the India Green team as they require nothing less than an outright win to advance to the final.
And they had done well to wrap up the India Blue innings for just 177 and themselves were well placed at 100 for three. Captain Parthiv Patel had hoped to turn the screws on his rivals, but rain has crushed his efforts. He will still be hoping against hope for a win in whatever time is available. On the other hand, Suresh Raina's India Blue just have to ward off defeat to advance to next week's final against India Red in Lucknow.
