5 thrilling draws involving India affected by rain/bad light

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Without a doubt, Team India is one of the most followed teams around the world. Hence, every game they play will be closely followed. Even Test cricket is followed intensely.

And there are some Tests that India have played have gone right to the wire and ensured nail-biting and tight finishes. In a few such Tests like the recent one in Kolkata (where India had Sri Lanka 7 down before bad light forced a draw), elements such as rain and bad light has played a big part. Thus, here we look at 5 such games which endured a nail-biting draw.

#5 Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad – 1969

With a series between India and New Zealand level at 1-1, the third Test was expected to be a closely contested one. After opting to bat first, New Zealand crawled their way to 181/9 at the end of the first day’s play after being 106/0.

The second’s day’s play was washed out due to rain, and a rest day followed. Thus, when the players returned to take the field for the third day’s play, lots of drama unfolded as the pitch became lively with a decent amount of grass on it.

Umpires wanted the grassy cover to be chopped but an objection from the Kiwi skipper Graham Dowling ensured nothing happened. After being bowled out for 181, the Kiwi bowlers wreaked havoc on a lively pitch as India folded up for 89.

In the second essay, the visitors scored 175 and declared setting India a target of 268 with five and a half hours left.

The Kiwi bowlers once again stamped their authority as India slipped to 66/7 and with more than two hours of play remaining, a loss was on the cards.

However, when the hosts reached 76/7 the heavens opened up and the rain lasted for about 30 minutes which was followed by hot sunshine. But a slow mopping up process ensured no further play was possible and it helped India escape with a draw.