Cricket: Tourists suffer washout

Sri Lanka's preparations for the opening one-day international on Boxing Day were dealt another blow yesterday when their final practice match was washed out at Hamilton.

Only days after their tour opener against Central Districts met the same fate at New Plymouth, the Sri Lankans' 50-over shootout against Northern Districts was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The washout means they will head into Sunday's ODI with minimal game time under their belts, having spent only one innings in the field since arriving in New Zealand on Monday morning.

It was the worst possible outcome for the John Dyson-coached Sri Lankans, who have not played an ODI since mid-October, when they beat Pakistan in the final of the Paktel Cup series at Lahore.

To make matters worse, in the short time they did spend in the field against Central Districts, they lost one of their most potent bowlers - left-armer Nuwan Zoysa - with a dislocated finger.

Yesterday's match was scheduled to start at 2.30pm but always seemed an unlikely proposition. It was initially delayed as officials waited in vain for the outfield to recover from heavy falls of rain.

There was a forlorn hope that the skies might clear in time for an abbreviated 30-overs per side match but the rain returned just before 5pm, washing out the last chance of squeezing in a contest.

An unsettled forecast may yet affect the one-day international in Auckland.