Wet weather stalls SA-Windies ODI as cloud hangs menacingly over Indian Ocean

At Buffalo Park, East London

A maddeningly irritating, but common form of stop-start rain that's unique to the stretch of the Eastern Cape between the Great Fish River and the Mzimvubu River ensured the start of the first ODI between South Africa and the West Indies on Thursday was delayed.

The rain was correctly predicted for Thursday, and it continued to fall in fits and starts despite the prevalent warm weather.

The rain has stopped, but it remains menacingly dark over the scoreboard and Bunkers Hill Golf Course....@Sport24news pic.twitter.com/6cgYNH5NuF

News24 understood that wet patches on either side of the covers that looked after the pitch square also posed a significant problem, while the rest of the outfield was in playable shape.

The direction of the rain and wind was also problematic, with the South-Westerly wind bringing the onshore flow wind that contains increased moisture from the ocean.

The rain, predictably, has returned...@Sport24news pic.twitter.com/0Xr00yV9vz

That meant the toss, which was supposed to take place at 12:30, remained delayed as the ground staff played their on-and-off game with the covers while the rain toyed with them.

The latest the game can start is 18:30, but the weather showing no signs of abating, there's every possibility the game could be called off earlier than that.