BENGALURU: Torrential rain marred the World Cup warm-up matches as the highly anticipated clash between hosts India and reigning 50-overs champions England was washed out in Guwahati on Saturday.
The rain, which started shortly after India’s captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat, persisted throughout the day, forcing match officials to abandon the contest at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in northeastern India.
Despite the disappointment, England might find solace in the cancellation, having endured a grueling 38-hour journey from London to Guwahati with lengthy layovers. They now have a chance to refine their skills in a match against Bangladesh on Monday before their tournament opener against 2019 runners-up New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
India to Face Netherlands on Tuesday
India, on the other hand, will face the Netherlands on Tuesday as they prepare for the World Cup, aiming for their third title in the prestigious tournament.
Meanwhile, five-time champions Australia also faced frustration as rain delayed the start of their warm-up match against the Netherlands. This marked the second warm-up encounter affected in Thiruvananthapuram, with South Africa’s match against Afghanistan being abandoned the day before due to adverse weather conditions.
