Rain plays spoilsport

Just when we were about to witness a crucial DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) tie between the Delhi Daredevils and the Kolkata Knight Riders, the heavens tore open and the rain had the last laugh as the match was called off due to rain.

Delhi has already started getting prepared for its early onset of the monsoons. But the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, that was fast drying up in the absence of rain the entire day, was again witness to showers only a few hours before play was scheduled to start.

The advent of bad weather could not have come at a worse time for Kolkata as it eliminates whatever little chance it had of qualifying for the semi-finals. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, still has an outside chance of qualification.

However, they will first have to beat the Mumbai Indians in their next encounter and hope Mumbai lose another match after that to ensure a place in the knockout phase.

Contrastingly, Delhi can even slip in with a chance if the Chennai Super Kings lose their remaining two games.

The Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab have already secured themselves a semi-final berth with 18 and 16 points respectively.

The Chennai franchise is placed third with 14 points and Delhi now takes Mumbai’s fourth position with 13 points. However Mumbai has played one match less than Delhi.

The field umpires made three inspections to the Kotla pitch after reaching a consensus to abandon the match, much to the disappointment of 25,000 fans that had gathered at the stadium to watch a lethal battle between two evenly matches sides led by Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.

The next match of the IPL will witness the Kings XI Punjab go head to head with the bottom-placed team of the IPL, Hyderabad Deccan Chargers who will be playing for pride.

The match will take place at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium at Mohali.