EAST LONDON (South Africa), Nov 10: For the second time on their tour of South Africa, India were denied match practice when the first day of a four-day game against South Africa ‘A’ was abandoned because of a wet outfield here Saturday.

Although the sun was shining, the Buffalo Park field was soaked after heavy rain overnight.

As at Chatsworth near Durban, where no play was possible in a scheduled three-day match against a Board President’s XI before the first Test, the facilities at the ground proved hopelessly inadequate to deal with large wet areas.

The Indians had to go into the first Test in Bloemfontein without any first-class match practice and wanted to use the East London game to try out players who did not play in Bloemfontein, where South Africa won by nine wickets.

It was also an important match for South Africa ‘A’, with several contenders for Test places in action, including experienced Test batsman Daryll Cullinan, who is recently returned from injury.—AFP