This is the first time the Lucknow venue is hosting a night T20 game in the month of December. (BCCI Photo)
The start of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was delayed after the match officials deferred the toss due to excessive fog and poor visibility on Wednesday evening.
Shortly before the captains were scheduled to arrive in the middle at 6:30 pm, the giant screen flashed that the toss was delayed and an inspection was due 20 minutes later. With the thick haze refusing to ease out, another inspection was slated to be held at 7:30 pm, taking out 30 minutes from the scheduled start of play at 7 pm.
A thick fog cover had begun to hover over the field just before the giant floodlights were turned on around 5 pm and the hazy air continued to persist even as both teams limbered up on the field.
It is worth noting that this is the first time the Lucknow venue is hosting a night T20 game in the month of December. India have previously played three games at the ground in the months of November, January and February in between 2019 and 2023.
The main stadium and the smaller B ground in the complex had recently hosted 14 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. However, all games were played during the day, with the latest start occurring at 4:30 pm during the league stage of the tournament.
White-ball fixtures in winter months have witnessed fog delays in recent years in the northern parts of the country. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, India’s group -stage fixture against New Zealand in Dharamshala had witnessed multiple stoppages due to poor visibility. Chasing 274 under the lights then, India’s chase was first stopped in the 15th over due to low-hanging clouds around the HPCA Stadium before the officials took the players off for over 10 minutes.
India are looking to seal a series win in Lucknow, having come into the 4th T20I leading South Africa 2-1. This will be their 14th consecutive T20I series win if they manage to pull it off.
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