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Rain ruins series opener in Sri Lanka-India clash

An Indian policeman stands among water containers that spectators had thrown onto the playing surface at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, India, after the cancelation of the one-day international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka on Thursday. A sell-out crowd of 88,000 at Eden Gardens returned home disappointed as the weather ruined what promised to be an absorbing contest. PHOTO: AFP

The Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya posted his 62nd limited-overs half-century on Thursday before rain forced the series opener against India to be abandoned as a draw.

Jayasuriya was unbeaten on 63 in Sri Lanka's total of 102 for three from 18.2 overs when unseasonable showers disrupted play and forced players to scamper to the dressing room.

The heavy showers lasted half an hour, but left the outfield waterlogged and play could not resume because of the slippery conditions.

Umpires Simon Taufel and Suresh Shastri waited for the ground staff to dry the field for four-and-half hours before abandoning the game.

The series will feature four one-dayers, the last international fixtures for both India and Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup in the West Indies starting next month.

India defeated Sri Lanka 6-1 in one-dayers during the last series in 2005.

Put to bat first by Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga (14), skipper Mahela Jayawardene (zero) and Kumar Sangakkara (12) cheaply but Jayasuriya was in smashing form.

Former skipper Jayasuriya struck 13 boundaries off 61 deliveries as he cut, pulled and drove firmly to assert his authority against the Indian pacers. Sri Lanka's most experienced player, Jayasuriya has also scored 23 hundreds in 376 one-dayers.

Another former captain, Marvan Atapattu was batting on five when play was suspended.

Jayasuriya sent India's fielders to retrieve the ball from the fence 11 times as he raced to his half-century in 48 balls. Jayasuriya was particularly severe on Shantakumaran Sreesanth, hitting him for six boundaries.

Jayasuriya also took five boundaries off paceman Munaf Patel, who was making a comeback to the Indian team after missing last month's series against the West Indies due to an ankle injury.

Despite suffering at the hands of Jayasuriya, Patel claimed two for 25 by dismissing Tharanga and Jayawardene.

Tharanga deflected a delivery on to his stumps when attempting a pull shot, while Jayawardene lofted an easy catch to Dravid at mid-on before getting off the mark.

Sangakkara perished as he edged a Sreesanth delivery to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni.
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