Downpour greets teams ahead of Cuttack ODI

Incessant rain for the fourth successive day threatened to completely wash out Saturday’s fifth ODI between India and Australia at Barabati Stadium.
Downpour greets teams ahead of Cuttack ODI

Incessant rain for the fourth successive day threatened to completely wash out Saturday’s fifth ODI between India and Australia at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, even as both the teams arrived here from Ranchi on Thursday.

It rained cats and dogs throughout the day on Thursday, disrupting life and flooding twin city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. If that is not bad enough, the Met office have forecast more rains in the next 24 hours.

Though host OCA is trying its best to save the stadium from getting water logged, situation seems to be getting out of control. Despite the three pitches being given a three-layer cover, it is learnt that rain water gushed into the pitch. However, ground staff saved the tracks from any major damage by removing the water, using sponge.

Meanwhile, both the teams checked into a star hotel here amidst tight security cover. Interestingly, rain stopped for a couple of hours in the afternoon after the teams landed at the Biju Patnaik Airport.

With the fourth ODI at Ranchi abandoned due to rain on Wednesday and the fifth game facing complete wash out, worries have compounded for MS Dhoni’s Men in Blue, who are trailing 1-2 in the seven-match series. To make matters worse, it is learnt that opening batsman Rohit Sharma has suffered an injury in his left ankle. He was taken to Apollo Hospital for an MRI after the team’s arrival here. Though the reason for the injury is yet to be known, sources say that it is not a serious one.

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The New Indian Express
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