The second day of the only Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand suffered the same fate as the first due to rains in Greater Noida, albeit not during hours of play, and the quality of the outfield.
The toss was scheduled at 9am local time, with play slated to start 30 minutes in advance to compensate for play being abandoned yesterday. But at 8.55am came the announcement that the toss was delayed and that there would be an inspection at 12pm.
The message from the broadcast at 9.10am was that “a thunderous overnight downpour last evening, from 6pm – for 90 minutes, at one stage left the outfield completely and utterly flooded.” The moisture underfoot remained a major concern and there was little hope that the ground would be fit for play by noon.
Electric fans were used in an attempt to dry a few patches. Blocks of grass were dug out from the nets and planted around the midwicket area, for a right-hand batter facing the Pavilion end. The sun was baking down the surface, but the ground wasn’t ready at noon and another inspection was slotted in at 3pm.
Nonetheless, there were covers laid on the pitch and a few strips in the square around 11.45am that stayed on for a while. New Zealand’s players arrived at the ground around 12:25pm, and a net was installed next to the main pitch which allowed them time to practice.
The spinners, including Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santer, got a run in before the quicks joined them. Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell were among the batters who took turns to bat in the afternoon. The Afghanistan players, on the other hand, never made it to the ground.
The inevitable occurred at 2.55pm as play was called off for the second day in a row with the toss yet to take place.
Ekanth is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo