The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Second match called off

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 28, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Second match called off

BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 27. West Indies and New Zealand played one of the shortest One-Day Internationals on record at Edgbaston when the second NatWest tie was settled in 21 overs a side.

I saw a shorter one between England and India in Chandigarh in 1984 when only 15 overs could be bowled after a deluge flooded the ground. That game went ahead because the local fans had waited many years for an international match and might have been very angry if it had been abandoned.

That match did little to enhance cricket and I fear today's — abandoned after West Indies made 122 and New Zealand was set 140 and reached 97 for two in 13.4 overs — was no credit to anyone except a couple of thousand spectators brave enough to stay to the end.

There was, once again, cloud as far as the eye could see when suddenly the rain stopped, the players came out to practise, a match of 35 overs was declared and the toss was made.

New Zealand won it and, anticipating swing, put West Indies in to bat. When the fielding restrictions were lifted after 10 overs the West Indies had scored just 39 — and Shivnarine Chanderpaul only eight off 30 balls.

As Chanderpaul faced up to his 31st ball, no doubt content in his own ability to husband wickets, the rain returned.

But after four balls of his second over the umpires called off the match which meant that we had witnessed 34 overs to achieve very little, although both sides get three points. — Ted Corbett

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