CHATSWORTH (South Africa), Oct 29: India’s preparations for the first Test against South Africa suffered a blow Monday when the first day of a three-day match against a South African Board President’s XI was abandoned due to a wet outfield.

The match at the Chatsworth Oval, south of the east coast city of Durban is the only first-class warm-up fixture for the Indians before the Test series starts in Bloemfontein Saturday.

The match will now be played over two days as the tourists must be in Bloemfontein Thursday to get in some practice at the Test venue.

After rain Sunday night, the Indian team did not leave their Durban hotel, although team manager Mahendra Bhargava and coach John Wright went to inspect the sodden outfield.

The Indians did not name a team for the match but were expected to try out their Test opening batting pair of Shiv Sunder Das and uncapped Connor Williams, both of whom need match practice in South African conditions.—AFP