Dangerous pitch abandons one-dayer

The fifth and final one-day international between Sri Lanka and India was abandoned after 23.3 overs on Sunday due to the unfit nature of the pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

Sri Lanka had toiled on the tricky surface to reach 83 for five after being put in to bat in foggy conditions when the match was called off after the pitch was deemed too dangerous to play on due to unpredictable bounce.

The decision to end the match early enabled India to win the series 3-1.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (31) suffered a painful blow on his left elbow off paceman Ashish Nehra, but bravely carried on after treatment before he fell to spearhead fast bowler Zaheer Khan,

Sanath Jayasuriya (20), celebrating his 21st year in international cricket, suffered a blow on his finger when he fended at debutant paceman Sudeep Tyagi as some deliveries leapt up from a good length while others kept low.

Tyagi got the ball to fly past batsman Thilina Kandamby (12 not out) after hitting a crack, forcing the batsmen to speak to the umpires.

Match referee Alan Hurst had a mid-pitch conference with the field umpires and the captains and suspended play before deciding to abandon the match.

A packed Kotla crowd reacted angrily, hurling chair covers onto the field and a section of spectators raised banners demanding their money back.

"We offer our apologies to all spectators," CNN-IBN TV channel quoted a release from the regional Delhi and District Cricket Association, saying that all gate receipts would be refunded.

This is the second ODI to be abandoned in India due to unfit pitch conditions after the game in Indore in 1997 between the same two teams.

- Reuters