CLT20: Rain puts Mumbai Indians in a spot of bother
The abandonment meant Mumbai are now in a spot of bother with two points on the board and a Net Run Rate of -0.425. Mumbai would now be desperate to win both their remaining games to fancy their chances of proceeding to the semi-finals.
More than 10,000 fans had gathered at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Monday (September 23) braving heavy rains in anticipation of watching Sachin Tendulkar bat. Much to their dismay, the Group A fixture of the Champions League 2013 between Mumbai Indians and Otago Volts was called off even without a ball being bowled.
The earlier game between Perth Scorchers and Highveld Lions too had to be called off without a ball being bowled after a heavy downpour drenched the ground immediately after the toss happened.
While the rain was heaviest three hours before the scheduled start of the Mumbai game, and tapered off as the evening progressed, the amount of water that had accumulated, left the outfield sodden and covers were brought in to protect the playing surface. The square were almost completely filled by puddles.
Persistent drizzle prevented all further attempts at a start, with officials calling off the match at 7.20pm, ten minutes before the scheduled toss.
The demand for tickets went through the roof before the game, and as many as 40000 were believed to have been sold for the Mumbai-Otago match. But the rain gods had other plans.
The abandonment meant Mumbai, CLT20 2011 winners and defending Indian Premier League champions, having lost to Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the tournament opener on Saturday, are now in a spot of bother. With two points on the board and a Net Run Rate of -0.425, Mumbai, would now be desperate to win both their remaining games to fancy their chances of proceeding to the semi-finals.
Mumbai will face Highveld Lions on Friday (September 27) at the same venue while Otago head to Jaipur to take on Perth Scorchers on Wednesday (September 25).