KARACHI, Dec 19: Intermittent rain on Friday severely dented hopes of Sindh Dolphins and Federal Areas Leopards as the RBS Pentangular Cup one-day match at the National Stadium was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Umpires Saleem Badar and Riazuddin made the predictable call 15 minutes after the cutoff time for a 20-over game had lapsed. Such were the conditions that it was always on the cards that no play could be possible in the given circumstances. Thus, both teams had to evenly share the four points.

The square was adequately covered since Thursday evening, but persistent rain throughout the night made the task virtually impracticable for NSK’s chief curator Ahsan Arain and his vigilant team to hand over the ground to the match officials as the sun remained behind a thick bank of cloud all day.

Friday’s result confirmed Punjab Stallions going through to Wednesday’s final after three straight wins. But the battle for the other spot is now wide open despite the threat of remaining matches badly disrupted by weather as rain has been forecast for the coming days as well.

Both the Dolphins and the Leopards have six points, but Shahid Afridi’s team is currently placed second behind the Stallions on superior net run-rate.

However, the Leopards have the crucial advantage of playing their last game on Monday – against the NWFP Panthers – the day after Dolphins take on the Stallions.

On Saturday, Balochistan Bears will face the NWFP Panthers, weather permitting.