Bangalore: Rain threatens to play spoilsport on Sunday

DHNS

• India-England tie

 

Bangalore, 26 February 2011: Showers pounded Bangalore on Friday evening casting an ominous shadow over the all-important World Cup match between India and England scheduled for Sunday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here.

 

The unseasonal rain came just when the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) thought it could breathe easy after Thursday’s uproar and police lathi charge over the sale of tickets for the one-day international tie.

 

The Meteorological Department has forecast showers after 3 pm on Sunday. Yet, this has not dampened the KSCA’s spirits. It is banking on the improvements made on the drainage facilities at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. It is confident that  “super sopper” machines can render the Chinnaswamy Stadium “match fit” as soon as the rain recedes.

 

The KSCA said it had done enormous work on the ground over the last six weeks. “We did a process called aeration which involves digging holes of half-inch diameter and four-inch depth at various parts of the outfield and top-dressing it with sand,” explained KSCA curator Narayan Raju. “This will help in absorbing water quickly.”

 

The officials are confident that even if it rains heavily, they could restart the match within an hour, for they have at their disposal good quality covers and the “super sopper” machines.

 

The Met department has said the skies will be partly cloudy. But thundershowers are expected in the evening and nights on Sunday.

 

Friday evening’s heavy downpour was attributed to a rise in temperature by two to three degrees in the City. The high temperature had also induced cyclonic circulation, which was moving from Chhattisgarh to the South. It is now passing through Karnataka. It may not clear on Sunday.  Bangalore received nearly 2 cm rainfall on Friday evening with HAL airport recording a steep 16.8 mm. 

 

Despite KSCA’s confident assertions, Bangalore’s cricket fans are a worried lot. They are nervous that the Sunday match may be washed out. John V George, who backs the Indian team to the hilt, says: “The whole city will be devastated if it is washed out. I hope it won’t rain; but after today’s showers, I’m a little apprehensive.”

 

His fears were echoed by Naveen Prasad Sharma, another cricket buff. “I think it’s going to rain. I’ll be really disappointed if it rains, for the India-England match is very important and the best tie in the World Cup.”  But there were some who shared KSCA’s optimism. Madhea Vareao was one of them. “There will be no rain. I’ll be watching the match on TV. And India will win, 101 per cent,” he adds.