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Rain threatens Wellington ODI as India call off training
Persistent drizzle wiped out India's Friday session and sent New Zealand indoors, with more rain forecast for Saturday's second ODI, which starts at 7:30 am IST.
Key points
- India cancelled their Friday training session in Wellington because of rain.
- Forecasts give a 60 to 70 per cent chance of rain on match day.
- India lead the five-match series 1-0 after a rain-hit win in Auckland.
India’s preparations for the second one-day international against New Zealand were washed out on Friday, when persistent drizzle in Wellington forced the visitors to call off their training session altogether. New Zealand moved their practice indoors to the facility at Wellington College.
The weather may not be much kinder on Saturday. Forecasts for match day give a 60 to 70 per cent chance of rain, with showers expected to build around the 3 pm local start, which is 7:30 am IST on November 7, at the Wellington Regional Stadium. Rain chances are put at 55 to 60 per cent through the first two hours of play, with temperatures of about 18°C and humidity close to 90 per cent after dark.
A possible window
There is some hope in the forecast. The hours between 5 pm and 7 pm local time look drier, with the chance of rain falling to 15 to 20 per cent, which could leave room for a shortened match decided by the DLS method. The evening turns wet again after 8 pm, and with no reserve day in a bilateral series, a full washout would mean the match is abandoned.
Shubman Gill’s side go into the game 1-0 up in the five-match series. The opener at Eden Park in Auckland was also hit by the weather: the start was delayed by 10 minutes and India won by five wickets after the DLS method came into play in the second innings.
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who missed the opener while playing for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln, has been asked to join the one-day squad in Wellington before this match.