Rain could yet become as significant an influence as Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara at the cricket World Cup.
Australia almost became the latest victims of South Africa's recent bad weather on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting's team only escaped with all four points from Potchefstroom thanks to a police helicopter -- used to help blow-dry the pitch -- and their co-operative opponents.
The Dutch amateurs could have justifiably argued the soggy surface was not fit for cricket but instead voted unanimously to play, determined to enjoy their big day against the world champions.
One match, however -- West Indies versus Bangladesh -- has already been rained off, depriving Carl Hooper's side of two certain points against weaker opponents.
Two other games, including the pivotal Group B encounter between New Zealand and South Africa, have also been affected by downpours, leading to revised run chases.
With no time to replay first-round matches, the weather could have a big influence on team prospects right up to the semifinals, according to Australia coach John Buchanan.
"Teams going through to the Super Sixes would like to take a maximum of 12 points," Buchanan said. "In our situation, assuming we qualify, it [a rained-off game] potentially brings our points back closer to the other teams.
"Therefore it's more bunched and alters the dynamics of the whole Super Six section."
Teams take four points from each victory against fellow qualifiers into the Super Six second phase, as well as one point for each win against eliminated sides.
Buchanan added that some teams hoping to qualify for the second round "might not even get there" because of bad weather, adding, "If they do get there it means it's life on the edge and they just can't afford to lose another game."
The West Indian wash-out at Benoni on Tuesday had already had a significant effect on South African chances of staying in the tournament.
Shaun Pollock's team lost two of their first three games, leaving them reliant on other results to avoid an early exit.
But the West Indies' misfortune means they will now almost certainly qualify just by winning their last three matches, whatever other results. Pollock said the rain had given his team "a lifeline."
Bad weather has had a huge effect on the cricket World Cup before.
In 1992 it played a large part in deciding both finalists.
Pakistan, the eventual champions, lost three first-round matches but were saved by the rain against England after being bowled out for 74. Had they lost that game, they would have been eliminated at the first hurdle.
South Africa, meanwhile, well-placed in its semifinal against England, was robbed of a chance of victory as rain cut short the match.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
RSS