KKR vs Chargers, 32nd match at Kolkata, Apr 24 2012, Indian Premier League

ABANDONED
32nd match (N), Eden Gardens, April 24, 2012, Indian Premier League

Match abandoned without a ball bowled

Match centre 
Comms: George Binoy

10.30 pm And that's that. The inevitable has finally happened. The match has been abandoned. Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers share points. The Chargers may still be winless after six games, but they aren't pointless anymore. Knight Riders are second in the league.

Thank you for all your emails today, we try and read as many as we can. The IPL resumes tomorrow and we'll be there. Cheers.

10.25 pm The covers are coming off, but there's still a lot of water on the outfield. Super sopping is happening. We'll know shortly if any sort of game is possible. The cut off time to start a five-over match is 11.20 pm.

10.00 pm Most of the ground is still covered. Some Super Soppers are trying to mop up the puddles on the covers. It looks very bleak. Here are some pictures from earlier in the evening, of the collapsed structure, the rain and the wind blowing the covers off.

Venky Mysore, chief executive of KKR, on Twitter: "Umpires are going in for an inspection at 10:15 pm IST. Fingers crossed."

9.50 pm "There was a temporary structure housing security broken due to heavy rains and strong winds. There were three minor injuries," Biswaraup Dey, the Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary, has told us. The makeshift structure was located in front of the J Block at the ground, to the left of the club house/pavilion. Out of the injured, reportedly two were policemen, the third was a spectator.

9.40 pm Bala: "Is it really a big deal for BCCI to install advanced auto-drainage infrastructure like what we have in Lords, Australia etc.? to at least all the major grounds in India? Don't think they are short of cash to do this! However heavy it rains, I don't remember a single instance when it took more than 20-30 minutes to resume in Melbourne. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong here!"

Ryan ten Doeschate on Twitter: "Wow, the stadium looks in a serious state, and how about all that water? I'd be amazed if there's a game tonight."

Shuvan: "Just a small piece of trivia: Deccan Chargers have never beaten Kolkata Knight Riders in India. Head to head- KKR-7 DC-0, overall head-to-head record is 7-2,when DC beat KKR in both legs of the 2009 IPL in South Africa."

9.25 pm No rain at the moment at Eden Gardens. The Super Sopper is supersopping. It has a lot of work to do. I'd be surprised if this match got underway, but that's just me. Stranger things have happened.

There's a tremendous amount of water near the boundary line. 90% of the ground is still covered. The 10% that isn't covered is drenched. Water polo, anyone? There was a lot of rain in a short span of time but the drainage at the ground has got to be rather average for such waterlogging to happen.

8.55 pm Well the good news is that it has stopped raining at Eden Gardens. The bad news is that the water-logging is severe. There is lots of water on all the covers, and parts of the outfield near the boundary are sodden. I saw someone ankle deep in water near the dug outs.

Naveen: "@PRC - I remember being at Eden for THAT ODI between Ind and SA, where I almost ended up having fist-fights with at least 10 different people crazy enough to boo India and support SA. Worst. Eden. Experience. Ever. And yes - I'm the biggest Dada fan ever."

8.40 pm Status quo at Eden Gardens. Doesn't look good at all. There's also been some trouble with a stand getting damaged. We'll keep you updated on the situation when we have some information.

Dibyajyoti: "The good old Eden had stood through so many thunderstorms and the sort. So much for renovation!"

8.20 pm Pommie Mbangwa, former Zimbabwe fast bowler now IPL commentator, has this to say on Twitter: "Part of a stand has fallen and there might be some injuries. Not sure yet but doesn't look good #EdenGardens." Doesn't look like a very big part of a stand, though, and there's hardly anyone in the stadium at present.

The rain is very heavy, most of the ground is covered. Stay patient people, and follow the West Indies-Australia Test to pass the time.

Joy: "Just hope it doesn't rain on 5th May! That's THE match we are all waiting for." On that day Sourav Ganguly will lead Pune Warriors against Kolkata Knight Riders, at Eden Gardens. Knight Riders might not have the home support for that one.

PRC: "Going by fb and public opinion, THAT match on 5th May might actually end up being an away match for KKR at the Eden Gardens. Remember Graeme Smith being cheered and Dravid booed by the Calcutta crowd when Dada was dropped? That old man with unkempt hair still drives many Calcuttans crazy!"

8.10 pm PRC: "It has been scorching hot in Calcutta over the last 2 weeks, and a burst of rain is more than welcome. At the same time, I would hate it if the game is called off and KKR lose a point. Indoor cricket stadiums in the next 20 years, what say?" Not a fan of playing cricket indoors, I am.

Sid: "Irony is all the weather websites are showing clear sky; it seems heavens have come down to rescue Deccan Chargers ..." Surely they'll win one eventually, it could be/have been today. Or will Chargers be the IPL's Impi?

7.55 pm Bodke: "Looks like Deccan will have their first points today... One point each for a rained out match, right?" Correct. Though there's plenty of time before that happens. The latest a five-over game can begin is 11.10 pm.

Darshan: "On normal days the light towers are clearly visible from my house but as of now, it's not at all visible. The winds are quite strong here and it's raining very heavily. I was at the stadium during the Delhi game but the rain today is much worse. Interestingly, it was all looking good & was scorching hot till about 7 and within minutes the weather changed for worse (from cricket point of view)."

The wind is causing problems at Eden Gardens. Getting the covers in place has been a real challenge.

7.45 pm While we wait for word on when the toss will take place, you could have your say on whether you think IPL 5 will be a success.

Whoops, thunder, lightning and strong wind at Eden Gardens now. The ground staff are scrambling, bringing covers out to cover the square in a tearing hurry. Looks like this delay will last a while now.

7.30 pm There's a spot of rain at Eden Gardens, and that's why the toss hasn't taken place yet. The pitch isn't covered through, so it's very light, the drizzle. Both captains are out there, waiting for clear weather.

7.25 pm Good evening, and welcome to our ball-by-ball coverage of the second of today's IPL games. Kolkata Knight Riders are playing Deccan Chargers at Eden Gardens. It seems like these two teams played so recently at Cuttack, where Knight Riders handed Chargers their fifth consecutive defeat. In fact, that match took place only day before yesterday. Strange scheduling this. In a few days very few people will be able to distinguish one match from the other.

Another victory for Knight Riders will take them level on points with Delhi Daredevils, who are No. 1 at present.

PLAYING XI
KKR
DC
PLAYER
ROLE
Allrounder
Bowler
Wicketkeeper Batter
Allrounder
Allrounder
Top order Batter
Bowler
Wicketkeeper Batter
Wicketkeeper
Allrounder
Allrounder
Middle order Batter
Batter
Allrounder
Bowling Allrounder
Bowler
Allrounder
Bowler
Bowler
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Top order Batter
Bowler
Bowler
Wicketkeeper Batter
Bowler
Allrounder
Match details
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Tossno toss
Series
Season2012
Hours of play (local time)20.00 start, First Session 20.00-21.25, Interval 21.25-21.45, Second Session 21.45-23.05
Match days24 April 2012 - night (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
PointsKolkata Knight Riders 1, Deccan Chargers 1