Cricket: Rain hampers tour opener

Sri Lanka were 141 for three at stumps on a rain-affected opening day of their four-day cricket tour match against Otago at the University Oval in Dunedin yesterday.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in cool and blustery conditions in what is their only warm-up game before their two-test series against New Zealand starts in Christchurch next Thursday.

Almost five hours of play was lost as rain and bad light forced the players from the field with six overs remaining of the revised total of 42 to be bowled once play started at 3.15pm. Kumar Sangakarra was unbeaten on 51 and Tillekaratne Dilshan not out 14 at the close.