ST PETER’S (Antigua), March 31: Overnight rain delayed the start of the World Cup Super Eights match between Australia and Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday.

Umpires Aleem Dar of Pakistan and New Zealand’s Billy Bowden inspected the pitch and the outfield at the scheduled start time of 9:30am (1330 GMT) and again at 10:15 and 11:00 before announcing there would be a further inspection at midday.

Although the sun was shining, sections of the outfield were still damp after torrential rain in Antigua over the past 24 hours and water splashed over Aleem Dar's foot when he pressed it into the ground.

Some of the excess water appeared to be just outside the square, threatening injury.

The teams could meet again the following day, if the match could not be completed on Saturday.—Reuters