Eastern Cape vs Super Giants, 25th Match at Durban, SA20, Feb 03 2023 - Match Result

8.30pm: Hello, folks. What's occurring? Match abandoned is what's occurring, despite the best efforts of the groundstaff at Kingsmead. Sounds like there had been a proper deluge, and the outfield wasn't up to it. A no-result isn't great news for Durban's Super Giants, but I think it just about keeps them mathematically in the hunt for top four. Anyway, that's enough from Durban for tonight, and a soggy SA20 Friday. We'll be back for more tomorrow, with Pretoria Capitals taking on MI Cape Town. From Ekanth, Ranjith and myself, it's goodnight and good luck. Bye!

8:25pm: Still no news, folks. Let's see if Alan Gardner's entry into the hotseat changes things.

8:05pm: The wet outfield is still an issue. No official updates yet.

7:45pm: No updates yet but the signs are improving.

7:25pm: *Checks the watch after entering the time* It's still rain o' clock, folks. Loss of overs is now a certainty. *A few moments later*, the rain is no more the issue. But the outfield is an issue.

allie: "So after 19:21 we losing overs which is now :("

7:07pm: It's still raining. What else is new?

6:49pm: Rain 2.0 is on, 3.0 if you include the first game. It's pouring, Shaun Pollock suspects this could be a long break, confirms that 83 minutes can be lost without affecting the number of overs. Fifty are out, looks like the other 33 are in danger of being washed away. Jonty Rhodes and a member of the support staff are out to help put up the covers. It's raining so hard that the covers have gotten heavy and are being kind of tugged and bounced to lob away the water.

Free hit

Keemo Paul comes on.

Mulder starts with no slip

Crowd are getting into it. Applause goes around. Back on the ride we go. Short cover in

6:34pm: The clouds still loom large and grey but it's dry. Topley will be back on in an attempt to get the hat-trick. Can Markram avoid becoming the third batter in the game to leave with a golden duck.

6:28pm: Play due to restart at 6:35pm local time. Overs would have been lost if the restart was delayed by ten more minutes. So we're safe.

6:20pm: The wait continues, which should be the title of today's diary entry. Cue the old stuff from the rain playlist. At least the spirit among the crowd at the ground hasn't been dampened. Google says 'qhuma ipiano' means 'play the piano' in Xhosa.

6:02pm: Okay folks, the rain looks to be settling in. Super Giants need a win to stay in contention and will hope that the rain makes a quick 20 rather than another daddy hundred leading to the day's second washout.

5:45pm: Topley returns for his hat-trick ball. But it's the weather that does the magic, rain is coming down with increasing intensity. Umbrellas and a few blankets are out, lots of movement on the grassbanks. Three overs thus far have led to thirty runs from Rossington alone and two golden ducks. The square is covered. Shaun Pollock on air, suspects this might be a passing shower. Let's hope it is.