Live Score

6:46 PM IST & Local Time: There is persistent rain around the venue at the moment. The entire ground remains under covers. By the looks of it, we are certainly not starting on time. There you go! Just as I type, the start of play has officially been delayed due to rain.

7:30 PM IST, Local Time: Nothing new to update! It is still bucketing down in Colombo, and the entire ground is covered. Plenty of puddles have already formed on the covers. Next update from the venue is at 8 PM IST, Local Time.

8 PM IST & Local Time: No new developments to report at the moment. We will start losing overs from 8:10 PM IST/Local Time, which is now just 10 minutes away. We’re also hearing that heavier spells of rain could arrive shortly. For now, the wait continues! Abhinav Mukund, on air informs us that the cut-off time for a 5-over-a-side contest is 11:10 PM IST/Local Time. Next update from the venue is at 9 PM IST, Local Time.

8:30 PM IST & Local Time: The rain has intensified once again and it’s absolutely pouring in Colombo at the moment. We’ll have to wait for it to ease before the ground staff can return to the field and begin their preparations. Despite Abhinav Mukund mentioning on air that the cut-off time for a five-over game is 11:10 PM IST/Local Time, we’ve now received confirmation that it is actually 10:16 PM IST/Local Time, as stated earlier. That leaves us with less than two hours to get a game in. For now, the delay continues!

9 PM IST, Local Time: Unfortunately, it is still raining heavily! 10.16 PM IST and Local Time is the latest cut-off time for a five-over contest! It seems that we could be hearing the inevitable announcement very shortly now.

9:05 PM IST, Local Time: Unfortunately, this game has been abandoned due to heavy rain! Both Pakistan and New Zealand share a point each.

There was rain earlier in the day, but it disappeared for a while, allowing a little time for the toss, which Pakistan won and decided to bat first. Just when the two captains started to speak to Mark Howard, the drizzle came back, and the rain only intensified. The entire ground was covered in the blink of an eye. Relentless rain never allowed any further activity, forcing the match officials to call the two captains and inform them of the final verdict.

So, a tame end to the opening game of the Super 8s! New Zealand and Pakistan share a point each in this Group 2 clash.

Tomorrow, it is a doubleheader, a super Sunday on the cards. Sri Lanka take on England in Pallekele in the afternoon game, while India lock horns with South Africa in Ahmedabad in the evening match. 

For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Pritam Dey, scorers Chandan Kr Singh and Zeeshan Naiyer and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!