Bad weather spoils first one-dayer

CRICKET: Bad weather washed out the Unitech Triangular Series limited overs cricket tournament opening day-night match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Heavy rains which fell early in the morning drenched the Premadasa Stadium and another wet spell just before the scheduled start at 2:30 p.m. prompted match referee Chris Broad of England to call off the game.

The two umpires Billy Bowden and Asoka de Silva were preparing to inspect the ground for the second time when heavy torrential rain forced the ground staff to cover the pitch again. The Sri Lankan and South African teams did not even arrive at the grounds after morning showers left the outfield soaked.

The match will be played today weather permitting, as a reserve day has been kept aside for all seven matches of the series which also features India.

The tickets sold for this match will be valid for today's game.

However, more inclement weather has been forecast over the next few days. The series is scheduled to be worked off until August 29 with each team playing the other twice in the league before the Final.