Opening match washed out

The umpires, Billy Bowden and Ashoka de Silva, and the match referee, Chris Broad, had a first inspection at 12.30 pm local time when the weather gods had relented briefly. They were scheduled to do a second inspection at 4.00 pm, but another spell of showers literally poured cold water on their hopes.

The tournament provides for a reserve day and the match will be played tomorrow. But with more thundershowers forecast for the next 48 hours it looks less likely that a ball would be bowled. The tournament, also involving India, runs until August 29.