After a washout in Ranchi, the focus now turns to the 5th One day International Cricket match at Cuttack. The weather forecast for Cuttack on Saturday 26th of October could ruin the fifth ODI between India and Australia as rain is expected.
Cuttack had been receiving rain for last two days. 59 mm of rain was recorded yesterday, on 23rd of October that caused water logging in the Barabati Stadium. The pitch curator Pankaj Patnaik and ground staff at the Stadium are hoping to keep the outfield and Pitch dry enough to stage the match.
“It rained heavily but the pitches are intact. We have covered all three pitches at a width of about 30 ft,” curator Pankaj Patnaik said.
Odisha Cricket Association senior functionary Satya Mohanty claimed that the stadium has an excellent drainage system that could remove rain water with the help of pumps.
“If the rain stops for a day before the match, everything would be ready. We are hopeful that there will be no further rain and we will be able to host the match successfully,” Mohanty said
But what if rain does not stop that day? Forecast of weather in Cuttack for next three days reveals that rain will continue in Odisha especially over the coastal belt in Bhubaneswar (some 25 km away from Cuttack). The region is experiencing a southeasterly wind surge due to the low pressure in south India.
The 4th ODI in Ranchi on Wednesday was washed out as rain intervened at the start of the second innings and continued beyond the match timings. Rain also stopped play for some time in the first innings. The weather remained overcast throughout the match.