The fifth one-day international (ODI) of the seven-match series between India and Australia here on Saturday was called off due to a wet outfield.
There was hope among the cricket enthusiasts with the sun shining bright on Saturday morning but after the 11 am inspection done by match referee Roshan Mahanama the outfield was deemed to be too wet for play.
Cyclone Phailin, a tropical storm from the Bay of Bengal, triggered heavy rain in the southeastern Indian coast.u00a0Phailin, which made landfall on October 12 near Gopalpur in Ganjam district, brought heavy rain and caused floods leaving a trail of destruction in several districts of Odisha.
The Odisha Cricket Association released a statement on Friday which said that the ground was “completely water-logged and the chances of its drying up are extremely remote”.
The association had employed helicopters to dry the ground, but it did not prove too effective.u00a0The fourth ODI in Ranchi was also abandoned midway after heavy rain. Australia lead the series 2-1 with two games remaining.
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