Afghanistan Vs New Zealand One-Off Test In Jeopardy As Persistent Rain Calls Off Day 4
AFG Vs NZ: Match abandoned for DAY 4 (X)
The historic one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex is teetering on the edge of a washout. Due to relentless rain and waterlogged conditions, no play was possible over the first three days.
Despite some sporadic sunshine, the ground conditions did not improve enough to facilitate play. In the latest development, Day 4 of the match has also been called off due to rain and a wet outfield.
AFG Vs NZ: Day 4 Abandoned Due To Rain
On the first two days of the match, officials waited until late in the evening before abandoning play, hoping the weather would clear up. However, on Day 3, the situation took a turn for the worse, as heavy rain early in the morning caused severe waterlogging across the field.
The same continued for Day 4 as match officials were forced to make an early decision and called off the entire day's play at 9 AM IST.
As Day 4 was abandoned, it marked another blow to the match, with conditions at the Greater Noida Stadium still unplayable despite the efforts of ground staff.
On day 3, in a desperate attempt to salvage the outfield, workers were seen digging up sections of the grass, filling the damaged areas with dry soil and grass to drain the water. Despite these efforts, the conditions have barely improved due to the continuous rain and soggy patches on the outfield.
AFG vs NZ: Weather Forecast For Day 5
The persistent rain and the state of the ground have left the Test hanging in the balance, with fans and players waiting anxiously for an opportunity to take the field. However, as weather forecasts suggest more rain in the coming days, the prospects of the match being salvaged seem slim, with the likely outcome being a rain-affected draw or no result.
According to accuweather.com, things don't look great. There is a 50% chance of rainfall and a thunderstorm in spots in the afternoon.