Heavy rains wash out game; to be played today
Aug. 19: The reserve day will finally be put to use for the first time here on Friday as rain washed out scheduled play in the fourth match of the tri-series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Rangiri International Stadium here on Thursday. Heavy rains left the outfield wet and unplayable and the umpires called off play without making any inspections at 6.20 pm (local time).
Ross Taylor won the toss for the third time in a row and decided to bat as dark clouds hovered. This was to be the 1,000th ODI to be played under lights. Dambulla has hosted 39 ODIs previously, and this was the first time where there was no result.
It will be a fresh toss and a new team sheet on Friday. However, Sri Lanka Cricket has decided that Suraj Randiv will not be made available for selection and his ban will be in force till Sri Lanka complete one game. Randiv was banned for deliberately bowling a no-ball to deny Virender Sehwag a hundred in the third league game here.
Both sides made three changes to their composition. Rangana Herath came in for Randiv, while Ajantha Mendis replaced medium pacer Dilhara Fernando. Youngster Chamara Silva took the place of Thilan Samaraweera while Chamara Kapugedera held onto his place in spite of poor form.
For the Kiwis, Jacob Oram (back from a hamstring pull) and Grant Elliot took their spots while the injured Martin Guptill made way for Peter Ingram. The forecast for reserve day though, is not encouraging either. There is a 40% chance of rain and local knowledge says that if rains set in with thunderstorms, it usually continues for a minimum of three days.
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