Tour match: New Zealand District Association XI v Bangladeshis at Wanganui, 7-9 Dec 2001 CricInfo Live Report

Tour match: New Zealand District Association XI v Bangladeshis at Wanganui, 7-9 Dec 2001
Steve McMorran

New Zealand District Association XI 1st innings: Rain At Victoria Park Delays Play, Lunch - Day 2, Lunch - Day 2, Afternoon - Day 2, Afternoon - Day 2,
Bangladeshis 1st innings: Stumps - Day 2,
Live Reports from previous days

DAY TWO ABANDONED DUE TO RAIN

Rain has forced the abandonment of play on the second day of the three-day match between Bangladesh and a New Zealand Districts XI at Victoria Park, Wanganui today.

Umpires Dave Quested and Billy Bowden made the decision to call an end to the day's play when a heavy shower thwarted an attempted resumption at 3.20pm. Only four balls were bowled in the day.

Play will begin half an hour early at 10am on the final day tomorrow and may be extended to recover some of today's lost time.

The second day's play began on time today at 10.30am but only four balls had been bowled in the 101st over of the District XI's first innings when rain forced the players from the field. Bangladesh had just taken the innings' second new ball.

Lunch was taken 50 minutes early at noon but rain returned heavily during the interval and prevented any attempt at a resumption before mid-afternoon.

The umpires made a pitch inspection at 2.30pm and aimed for a restart at 3pm but the rain returned just as the players prepared to take the field.

New Zealand Districts declared their first innings closed at their overnight score of 232-3 and Bangladesh were preparing for their reply when rain stopped play.

Districts captain Peter McGlashan was left 59 not out and Greg Todd 14 not out.

NZ DISTRICT XI DECLARE

New Zealand Districts declared their first innings closed at their overnight total of 232-3 on the rain-affected second day of their three-day match against Bangladesh at Victoria Park, Rangiora today.

Rain permitted only four balls to be bowled in the morning session and, returning with renewed intensity during lunch, kept the players from the field throughout the early afternoon.

Umpires Billy Bowden and Dave Quested made a ground inspection in improving conditions at 2.30 pm and proposed a start of play at 3pm, when damp patches close to the pitch had been allowed to dry. New Zealand Districts immediately declared in an endeavour to push the match closer to a meaningful outcome.

Districts captain Peter McGlashan was left, by his own declaration, 59 not out after batting 170 minutes and Greg Todd was 14 not out.

DAY INPROVES AT VICTORIA PARK

An improvement in overhead conditions has encouraged umpires Dave Quested and Billy Bowden to propose a resumption of play at 2.30pm on the second day of the three-day match between Bangladesh and a New Zealand Divisional XI at Victoria Park, Wanganui today.

Only four balls have been bowled in the day so far and the remainder of play has yielded to rain. Play began on time at 10.30am but the the first over of the morning - the 101st of the match - had not been completed when a heavy showers chased the players from the field.

The rain cleared then returned more heavily during lunch which was taken 50 minutes early at noon. Prospects for play seemed bleak but the weather has recently improved. Cloud has lifted and parted and faint if startling sunshine is bathing the ground.

The covers have been lifted, the outfield as been scoured and the prospect of at least some play today seems bright, barring further showers. Play may also begin half an hour early at 10am on the final day tomorrow to make up some of the time lost today.

The Districts XI will resume their first innings at 232-3 with Peter McGlashan 59 not out and Greg Todd 14 nout out.

RAIN STILL FALLING IN WANGANUI

Bangladesh's quest for matchplay early in their tour of New Zealand has been frustrated by rain which has washed out the first session on the second day of their three-day match against a New Zealand Districts XI at Victoria Park, Wanganui.

Only four balls were bowled after the resumption at 10.30am today before passing showers chased the players from the field. Lunch was taken 50 minutes early at noon and there was brief optimism that play might resume early in the second session when the rain passed and the covers were lifted.

But as the players lunched the rain returned more heavily, more steadily than in the morning and hopes quickly faded of a beginning immediately after lunch, even in the near future.

Bangladesh was looking to this match, against players drawn from New Zealand's minor associations, to assist its acclimatisation to New Zealand conditions. The tourists found the pitch at Victoria Park of a similar pace but different character to those they are used to at home.

DAY CLEARING AT EARLY LUNCH

No further play will be possible in the morning session on the second day of the three-day match between Bangladesh and a New Zealand Districts XI at Victoria Park, Wanganui today and lunch will be taken at noon.

Four balls were bowled by Bangladesh this morning before rain intruded and forced the players from the field. The second new ball was taken after only one delivery - the first of the 101st over - and the Districts XI remained at their overnight score of 232-3.

Showers are forecast to continue throughout the day.

START OF PLAY - DAY 2

Four balls were bowled on the second morning of the three-day match between Bangladesh and a New Zealand Districts XI at Victoria Park, Wanganui today before rain began to fall and the players fled the field.

The covers are now on the pitch, the rain is falling steadily and the likelihood is that there will be very little play before lunch - in fact the rain is forecast to continue for much of the day.

The Districts XI resumed their first innings at 232-3 with captain Peter McGlashan 59 not out and hadn't added to that score when rain stopped play. Bangladesh bowled one ball, the first of the 101st over, before taking the second new ball and when the rain began they took it quickly from the field to protect its shine.

Both teams had been moderately satisfied with their first day efforts. Bangladesh are yet feeling their way in foreign conditions and while coach Trevor Chappell was disappointed his team didn't capture more wickets, he was pleased with their economy and their perserverance.

The Districts XI, helped to their total by an innings of 117 from Harley James, were glad to have preserved wickets and that several players mounted long innings. They would have preferred to score at a better rate on the first day than a tic more than two runs per over but, with wickets in hand, they are in a strong position to press on if more play is possible this morning.

The forecast is umpromising. Showers fell in Wanganui early this morning and are expected to continue for most of the day.