Asia Cup 2023: Colombo rain helps script ODI history as India, Pakistan to play on Reserve Day for first time
Asia Cup 2023: India will resume their innings at 147 for 2 from the 25th over on the Reserve Day (September 11). Rain played spoilsport on Sunday in their Super Fours match in Colombo.
In Short
- Rain played spoilsport in the Super Fours match on Sunday in Colombo
- India and Pakistan will resume the contest on Monday, the scheduled Reserve Day
- India were 147 for 2 after 24.1 overs when rain interrupted play
The rain gods in Colombo did not show mercy as the Super Fours match of Asia Cup 2023 between heavyweights India and Pakistan was forced into the Reserve Day. Play was halted due to heavy rain after 24.1 overs into the Indian innings on Sunday, September 10 and it did not resume due to puddles that had formed on the ground at the R Premadasa Stadium.
The wet weather in Colombo contributed to a piece of ODI Cricket history as Monday will be the first time India and Pakistan will play a match on the scheduled Reserve Day.
India last played an ODI on a Reserve Day during the 2019 World Cup -- the heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals at Old Trafford in Manchester. On the other hand, Pakistan last played an ODI on the Reserve Day in August 1992 against England at the Lord's Cricket Ground.
On Sunday, the game was progressing well with India at a promising position of 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs when the skies opened up, forcing the players off the field. The Indian team had made a bright start with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scoring half-centuries at a brisk pace, contributing to an opening stand of 121 runs. However, the rain played spoilsport, leading to the match being called off for the day.
Rohit and Gill negated the Pakistan pace-bowling attack wonderfully well, making up for their failures in the Group A game in Pallekele last week. Following their dismissal, Virat Kohli and K L Rahul took over the crease, batting at 8 and 17 respectively when the rain lashed the stadium.
Despite the interruption, all is not lost as the fixture has a reserve day allocated. This means that the match will resume from the exact stage where it stopped on Sunday, ensuring a fair chance for both teams to compete in a full 50-overs-a-side match.
It was a frustrating wait for fans of the two teams at the RPS as the game had begun in hot and humid conditions in the afternoon.