ICC WTC Final 2021: Day 04 Abandoned Due To Persistent Rain In Southampton

As was widely expected, the fourth day of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final [WTC] between India and New Zealand has been abandoned due to persistent rain at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.

The forecast for the day had predicted heavy and persistent showers and it proved to be annoyingly accurate as not a single ball was bowled on what would have effectively been the third day of the Test.

After playing the waiting game for hours, the officials finally decided that they have had enough and proceeded to pull the plug.

The BCCI Twitter handle announced the same, stating-

“Update: Play on Day 4 abandoned due to rain. We thank our fans who turned up and kept the tempo high. See you again, tomorrow.? #TeamIndia #WTC21 

Update: Play on Day 4 abandoned due to rain. We thank our fans who turned up and kept the tempo high. See you again, tomorrow.? #TeamIndia #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/0OpqZ0hGd5

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 21, 2021

This the second complete day that has been washed out in the ICC WTC final and while we still have two complete days (including a reserve day), the chances of having a result are looking pretty grim.

As far as the situation of the match is concerned, India were bowled out for 217 on the third afternoon as Kyle Jamieson ran through the middle and lower-order to claim his 5th five-wicket-haul in just his 8th Test.

In response, New Zealand had moved on to 2/101 before bad light forced a premature halt to the proceedings on the third day.

The weather for the remaining couple of days looks encouraging but one feels that it will a herculean collapse from either of the teams for us to see a result in the ICC WTC final.

Also Read- Ian Bishop Names 2 Finalists If ICC WTC Had Taken Place In the 1980s; Picks A Winner