ENG vs IND

We have the inevitable, the rain has refused to cease and as a result the game has been called off.

Handshakes between the players of the two team. The umpires had a chat with the groundsmen before reaching the decision even though there was around 40-odd minutes remaining for the cut-off time, it had got a bit too damp and the rain had done enough damage. Such a pity as it was shaping up to be such a good game but the rain Gods had other plans. Guess what, India have played international three games in Durham including this one and all three of them have been aboandoned due to rain. Some psychic powers or what?

Fifties for Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, a good knock from Shivam Dube would be the positives for India while England would be pleased with the performance from Saqib Mahmood and Sam Curran's return. That would all be it though as the rain has had the final say

This was just the first of the five matches scheduled in this T20 series and now the teams will move to Manchester where the second game will be played at the Old Trafford on Saturday (July 4) where we expect much better weather. From here though, it is time for us to take your leave so this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the team. Good night!

8:20 PM local time (00:50 AM IST): The rain continues to bucket down at Chester-le-Street. The umpires have now walked over for a discussion with the match referee before heading into the India dressing room, suggesting play isn't likely to resume anytime soon.

8 PM local time (00:30 AM IST): The rain refuses to relent, continuing to fall steadily. The outlook is beginning to look increasingly gloomy.

7:55 PM local time (00:25 AM IST): We have started to lose overs. Live visuals do not paint a pretty picture. Raining steadily with the covers covering the entire square, the radar does not look promising either. We still have an hour and change in hand, though

7:40 PM local time (00:10 AM IST): Still raining. We are not far away from a getting into a shortened game territory - overs will start getting reduced from 7:53 PM local time (00:23 AM IST) which is only 13 minutes away from now

The latest we can start a 5-over contest is 9 PM local time (01:30 AM IST) and if that happens England's target would be 64, as per the official broadcasters

7:30 PM local time (00:00 AM IST): The covers are firmly in place now, and the rain has intensified significantly. It's coming down heavily, and we could be in for a lengthy delay if these showers persist.

7:20 PM local time (11:50 PM IST): The covers are coming on now, and more are being rolled out to cover the rest of the square. That's not the sight anyone wanted—we could be in for a bit of a delay before play gets underway.

7:13 PM local time, 11:43 PM IST: INNINGS BREAK

India have finished with 189/7 in 20 overs, England need 190 runs to win at 9.5 RPO

Shreyas Iyer 68(47) | Abhishek Sharma 59(24)
Saqib Mahmood 3/33(4) | Sam Curran 1/25(3)

Some befuddled stuff to end the innings but India would be pretty content with what they have got here specially after the start they got as the rain continues to sprinkle down off the grey skies at Durham, in fact this is the second highest total in T20Is at this venue

Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan departed cheaply, India were 6/2 in 2 overs before the Abhishek Sharma show began. He did run Ishan Kishan out but also made sure that he made up for it with some typical Abhishek Sharma shots, a 20-ball fifty for Abhishek as he dominated the powerplay post that with skipper Iyer playing second fiddle at the other end

The partnership between Abhishek and Shreyas added 82 off just 38, at one stage India were looking like they would get to 200 but then England pulled it back after Abhishek's dismissal. Some tight bowling from the hosts meant that Tilak Verma could not get going, Iyer took some time before getting to a maiden fifty as the Indian skipper and then he launched a few away

Shivam Dube played a crucial innings, 42* off 21 for the southpaw as he made sure the Indian innings did not falter from there on and in the end got India to a healthy total.

Saqib Mahmood was the pick of the bowlers for England with a 3-er, Sam Curran used his variations well but the spinners did not find it easy and India have got 3 of them

There has been persistent drizzle around which means that the bowling and fielding would not be easy, as we saw from England and this is going to be a really interesting second half which will come up soon enough

19.6 Sam Curran to Axar Patel, RUN-OUT! Absolute shocker and brainfade from Axar. Slower one, well outside the off-stump and he let's it go. Doesn't even try to steal a single, he does but was too late. Throw comes to the bowler, Curran runs back and clips the bails off.