SS vs HH

A rather disappointing end to what promised to be an absolute thriller between two star-studded sides. The Hurricanes have sealed a top-four finish courtesy of the point they gained out of this fixture. As for the Sixers, it is the Sydney Derby as they take on the Sydney Thunder in a few days, also looking to strengthen their push for a BBL Finals berth. Unfortunately, that was all this game had to offer.

The action, however, continues with Team India back in ODI action, taking on New Zealand shortly, in addition to the WPL & SA20 coverage on Sportskeeda. Until next time, this is Dwijesh, along with my colleague Datrim, signing off! 

4:23 PM Local Time (10:53 AM IST):

THE MATCH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF!

What a dampening end this has been to the game. The rain threat was always lurking around the corner. It was only a matter of time till it fully descended on the SCG. Only 5 overs of play were possible. Batting was very tricky, to say the least. The ball prodigiously nipped around off the deck. Stanlake and Meredith were consistently hitting the right areas and making life very tough for Babar and Smith. Babar, in particular, had a tough time and struggled to time the ball for most part of his innings. He has been under scrutiny for not maintaining a high strike rate, and today was no different.

With persistent rain and no improvement in sight, the officials were left with no option but to abandon this game. Both teams are forced to share a point each. With that, the Hurricanes become the first team to qualify for the BBL 15 playoff!

4:23 PM Local Time (10:53 AM IST): The umpires walk up to the two captains for a chat with their umbrellas on. Now something could transpire from here. We know which way this might be heading. And just as we suspected earlier, the game has officially been called off!

Fuddy: "How many overs cut?"
That's a billion-dollar question, my friend. Only the officials know the answer to it. This will become a lot clearer once the rain stops and the calculations can only be performed then.

sunny: "Is still raining in Brisbane what's the update?"
Sunny, we're in Sydney and not in Brisbane. And to answer your question, yes, it's raining steadily in Sydney which is why we have a break in play right now.

ck: "whether match starts"
Looks very unlikely now! More than an hour has passed and we are already losing overs. Tough times if you are a passionate cricket fan :(

Rehan: "Every one is judging babar even their fans but virat kohli also played slow in starting of his carrier so expect babar will improve"
Yes, the criticism has been harsh. But given the player of such caliber, fans expect Babar to play in a free-flowing fashion in the shortest format, somethig which he has struggled to do of late.

Aman: "what is the cut off time for a 5 over game?"
Aman, that's a question for the officials. Unfortunately, we do not have an answer to this query, though we wished we had. Once we get an official word on the revised conditions, we will be sure to inform you at the earliest.

Samppoo: "What about the 2 bbl match weather report Is their any chance of rain?"
The weather in Adelaide for the second game is expact the oppositie. Clear sunny weather is expected with very little chance of rain. As for this game, the chances of any resumption look very bleak.

Umer: "I think baber is best test and odi player not for t20"
Yes, Umer. Babar is most suited for ODI and Test. He looked quite fidgety today, unable to switch through the gears.

Sethu: "What is the good score in this ground"
Good question, Sethu. From what we know so far, the average first innings T20 score at the SCG has remained in the range of 145-150. Moreover, toss does not play a major role as past stats have indicated that both teams have equal opportunity of winning.

3:37 PM Local Time (10:07 AM IST): More than an hour has passed since the rain interruption. There is no visible improvement in the conditions. It's safe to assume that we've technically started losing overs. 

3:23 PM Local Time (9:53 AM IST): Rain continues to fall at a steady pace. Three umps are out in the middle with their umbrellas to take stock of the evolving conditions. Meanwhile, two super soppers are in full motion working near the boundary ropes to clear the excessive water. 

3:12 PM Local Time (9:42 AM IST): If the game is to be downsized to a five-over contest, then the Hurricanes will be the clear favorites. But we still haven't received an official word on resumption just yet. The Sixers would be itching to get back on the field and eke out as many runs as they can in this rain-hampered fixture. 

2:50 PM Local Time (9:20 AM IST): Still no improvement in the conditions! The rain is constantly pouring out and the fans in the stands have popped out their umbrelllas to take shelter. Bear in mind that the forecast predicts 50% chance of rain this afternoon. So the rain will have a say in this match. 

2:38 PM Local Time (9:08 AM IST): Bad news! The rain has intensified further! More covers are being brought on to cover the square. This delay could last for a considerable time. But let's just hope it's only a passing shower and we get to spring back in action shortly. 

2:30 PM Local Time (9:00 AM IST): Sorry, folks! So the inevitable has happened. Rain has descended on the SCG, and the players head off the field. It's a pretty heavy drizzle, and we could be in for a delay here. Sit tight as we bring you more updates!