Rain continues to hound Central's Cup campaign

The sound of falling rain has become an unmusical and unsolicited accompaniment to Central Districts' progress through the Shell Cup this season.

When their fifth round match against Canterbury at Pukekura Park was abandoned at 3pm today before a ball had been bowled, Central found themselves victims for the third time of a total match washout.

On Wednesday their match against Northern Districts was lost to rain - they pocketed a point and moved on glumly - and today's late abandonment only deepened their disappointment and frustration.

Every effort was expended today in trying to wring even the minimum possible amount of play from a sodden wicket block and outfield. The groundstaff worked strenuously, the umpires made every possible effort and concession to further the chances of play and the players looked on with unmitigated hope, offering every encouragement to those parties.

But their efforts finally succumbed to the inevitable. Rain has fallen in New Plymouth on each of the past four days and the cumulative effects on the playing area of those showers, including the most recent falls this morning, was too much for even the most ardent efforts anyone to overcome.

At 3pm and staring at a 3.35pm deadline for the start of a match of 30 overs for side - the latest start and the smallest number of overs allowed under cup playing conditions - the abandonment was announced.

The Central players trudged wearily, resignedly from the ground having taken two points for the abandonments of two games within three days. They now have five points from five Cup matches while Canterbury, with the point from today's washout, have three points after five rounds.

Canterbury move on to a New Year's Eve clash with Auckland and Central to Sunday's meeting with Wellington at Waikanae.

Their least encouragement from the day was that the weather forecasts for both venues is promising.