Asia Cup 2023: Groundstaff use Halogen lights to dry the pitch during Pakistan vs India Super 4 clash

The incessant rain at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo has left the fans frustrated as Pakistan vs India Super 4 match in the Asia Cup 2023 has been halted since Sunday, September 10. The ground staff has been working hard to get the ground ready for the play to begin again and are trying every possible method to dry the damp areas in the outfield.

On Monday, September 11, the reserve day of the match, the groundsmen were spotted using Halogen lights to dry the pitch. The image of the incident has gone viral all over social media.

Earlier on the previous day, the ground staff was seen using electric fans to dry several damp areas on the ground. Thanks to their continuous effort by, the match was finally able to restart again on the reserve day as India resumed their innings on 146/2 after 24.1 overs with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul at the crease. 

The duo started the day cautiously and gradually moved the innings ahead. Rahul was on 25 (46) after 29 overs and broke free as he cut Shaheen Afridi for a boundary towards point in the 30th over. He reached his fifty off 60 balls in the 34th over as India crossed the 200-run mark.

Rahul (111* off 106) and Kohli (122* off 94) completed their respective centuries and got involved in a massive 233-run partnership off 193 balls which is also the record highest stand in Asia Cup history. Courtesy of their massive partnership, India posted a mammoth score of 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs which is also their joint highest score against Pakistan in ODIs.

India hands Pakistan their second-worst defeat in ODIs

In reply, Pakistan got off to a disastrous start as Imam-ul-Haq (9 off 18) and Babar Azam (10 off 24) returned to the pavilion cheaply leaving their side on 43/2. The rest of the batters failed to keep up with the required run rate as Kuleep Yadav made them dance to his tunes with his five wicket haul (5/25, 8 overs). As a result, Pakistan could only reach 128 in 32 overs handing a massive win by 228 runs to India. Notably it was also their second biggest defeat in the history of ODIs.