Rain has final say at Kingsmead as first South Africa/India T20 washed out

The old, yet sad adage of cricket bringing rain to Durban struck on Sunday when the first T20 between South Africa and India at Kingsmead was washed out without a ball bowled.

The incessant rain meant the toss couldn’t even take place, denying Kingsmead a final international in it’s 100th year of existence as the India series circuit moves to Gqeberha for Tuesday’s second T20 at St George’s Park.

The Kingsmead T20 was sold out more than a month ago in anticipation of the world’s richest and most marketable side being in town.

The washed-out T20 means that’s it for Durban and internationals for 2023 as the Women’s ODI series between South Africa and Bangladesh taking place in East London (16 December), Potchefstroom (20 December) and Benoni (23 December).

The men’s T20 series, from Gqeberha on Tuesday, will move to Johannesburg on Thursday, from where it morphs into the ODI series that starts with the Pink Day ODI at the Wanderers (17 December), followed by the second ODI in Gqeberha (19 December) and the third ODI in Paarl (21 December).

The tour will be sealed by the traditional Tests at SuperSport Park (26-30 December) and Newlands (3-7 January).