Flooding ends NZ A game at interesting stage

New Zealand A suffered a bizarre setback in their opening limited overs match in the Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowlah cricket tournament in India yesterday.

The 22-team tournament in Hyderabad is an intensive series of one-day games for the New Zealanders who had their first game abandoned when a pipeline beneath the ground burst creating a huge puddle at square leg at one end of the ground.

New Zealand A's game against Mumbai was interestingly poised with the side 128/3 after 24 overs when chasing Mumbai's total of 250/9.

Frantic efforts by ground staff were made to clear up the water and a lot of saw dust and sand was used to patch up the area. However, it didn't dry out sufficiently and it was not possible for the game to continue.

The incident occurred after ground staff failed to close the valves at all the taps in the pipeline, and the tap left open was the one at square leg. It had to bear all the pressure of the system and created the pooling effect.

No provision was available in the playing conditions to cover the incident and it was decided that both teams should be given a point each.

Just what effect that will have in deciding the tournament quarter-finalists remains to be seen.

In dismissing Mumbai, Chris Drum took two for 35, Joseph Yovich two for 45, Jacob Oram two for 50 and Kyle Mills two for 51.

In reply, with Oram opening the innings and scoring 37, including six fours, Glen Sulzberger was 27 not out and Hamish Marshall 29 not out.

New Zealand A have been given "special guest" status for the event.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Cricket Association of Bengal XI, the side they met in the final of the Buchi Babu tournament last week.

Then on Thursday they play Chemplast, followed by the BPL XI on Saturday with the last group game on Monday against the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation XI.

Quarter-finals will be played next Wednesday, with the semi-finals on Friday and the final on Sunday.