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Lucknow Fog Washes Out India vs South Africa 4th T20I
The fourth T20 International between India and South Africa in Lucknow ended without a single ball being bowled, as heavy fog and smog made playing conditions unsafe at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. A dense haze settled over the venue well before the scheduled start, leading to an immediate delay in the toss.
Series of Inspections, No Improvement
On-field umpires conducted multiple inspections throughout the evening, starting at 6:50 pm. With visibility remaining poor, no definitive decision could be made. A second review at 7:30 pm showed little change, and South African players—who had previously begun warming up—were asked to return to the dressing room as conditions deteriorated.
Visibility Tests Under Floodlights
Another inspection at 8:00 pm saw umpires conduct visibility checks from the middle, with one official standing near the pitch while the other moved towards the boundary to assess sightlines. The pitch remained covered, and a further inspection was scheduled for 8:30 pm. However, as the fog thickened under the floodlights, hopes of play began to fade.
Final Call: Match Abandoned
Despite the patient waiting for spectators, subsequent checks—including one at 9:00 pm—offered no positive outcome. The decisive inspection at 9:25 pm, following discussions involving senior BCCI official Rajiv Shukla, confirmed the inevitable: the match was abandoned due to persistent low visibility.
What’s Next in the Series
With the no-result, India maintains a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series. South Africa now has just one chance to draw level when the teams face off in the fifth and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where both sides will be hoping for clearer conditions and a proper finish to the series.
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