Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI at Colombo, SL v ZIM, Jan 06 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

9:17pm That is that, the game has officially been called off. A frustrating finish in the end. Sri Lanka will take heart from the fact that their vice captain made an excellent century and that their new-ball bowling was on point. Zimbabwe had their moments but couldn't build on promising positions. They will have a chance to make amends in a couple of days. See you then. Check out Sreshth's match report which should be updated soon. Ranjith P and Sudeep Poojari have been our scorers. Thanks for joining. Goodnight from all of us.

8:40pm News coming in is that it's still raining at R. Premadasa Stadium. The cut-off time will be 10:10pm.

Kishkindha: "What's the minimum number of overs required to be bowled at this stage to constitute a game?" 20

Rachit-77 : "Think Zimbabwe would be very happy side due to this rain stoppage.." Potentially. They might even be benefited by a shortened game given there was a good chance they'd get blown away by the new ball.

8pm No official updates yet, so we await.

Prabath Perera: "if any desert at the world needs the rain , you can simply send an invite to Sri Lankan cricket team to play a match. you will get the rain!!!"

rachit-77 : "Any news about the cut-off time...???" Nope, but it's been close to an hour since the interruption. Generally, that's when overs start getting reduced, 4.2 minutes for each over.

Sanjeewa: "Rain stopped in Kandana but still lightning. Hope the rain will get cleared soon in Colombo as well"

7:09pm The stumps are being pulled out, we have a rain interruption. Roshan Abeysinghe says the umps might be worried by the lightning as well. The groundsman are covering the ground quickly. It's a steady drizzle for now. The BBC forecast has the chances of rain in the 30-to-50-percent range rain for the next couple of hours. Let's hope it isn't as bad and that the weather clears up and we get a full game.

Shamlan Malik : " I am at the stadium and it's raining heavily with lightning. I don't foresee any play for at least the next hour. "

Thilini comments a couple minutes later that "The rain seems to be slowing down slightly about 10km away from the stadium. "

Hasith: "Just 2.5 Km away from the ground still just a drizzle" This is the closest there is to an update at 7:28pm

Kevin: "On top of Arachige's offspins, both Liyanage and Asalanka have been accumulating a heavy bowling workload in domestic tournaments over the past few weeks, so technically 5 spin options for KM to choose from" They have Indeed bowled quite a bit. A reduced game might make it easier, as will the two early wickets.

Sanjeewa: "It's pouring in Kandana 15 KM away from Colombo. So this can be be the last over of the match"

Groundstaff have now gathered around boundary, holding the covers. Rain around the corner?

Two slips

pedro alonso: "sahan arachchige is an handy offspinner infact bowling more than shanaka usually " Thanks

Chameera, from over the wicket, with two slips

Ran: "Who will Sri Lanka use as their 5th bowler?" Shanaka probably