A DAY that promised much hope for Guyana and Leeward Islands ended in much anguish, when not a ball was bowled in their WICB Regional first-class match yesterday.
The Bourda Oval, which no longer hosts international matches in Guyana, looked like a huge lake on Thursday, with only the covered pitch being visible above the surface of the water, following persistent rain since Wednesday. But the water had receded to just about 10 metres from the boundary by midday yesterday, although the entire ground remained soggy and the pitch was soaked.
This prompted match officials to abandon the opening day of the second round match even before the start, and only the Leewards team turned up at the venue.
“We have home advantage, and we were looking forward to doing well in conditions which we know more than the Leewards,” said Guyana captain Assad Fudadin.
“We want to play, but there is nothing we can do about nature, and while it is frustrating to see a ground full of water, the team-spirit is high and we are still hopeful of some cricket, maybe from tomorrow afternoon.”
Prospects of play on the second day are almost non-existent, despite glorious sunshine all yesterday.
“We are hoping to get some sessions at the indoor facility,” said Leewards manager Percy Daniels. “But if there is more rain (last night) and the ground is again flooded, it would better serve our interest to leave early for Antigua, where we play our next game to have a few turf sessions there instead of being kept indoors until Tuesday.”
Umpire Clyde Duncan,  who is standing with Barbadian Vincent Bullen in the match, indicated that while they will have to wait until today to call off the second day, it was unlikely that there could be play before tomorrow.
He felt that two clear days of sunshine would permit possible play on the third day, while the groundstaff explained that the amount of water in the canals, which surround the ground, was affecting the drying process.
The National Cricket Stadium in Providence on the outskirts of the Guyana capital, where international matches are now contested, is unavailable because of an engagement, which was booked well in advance of the regional fixtures published by the West Indies Cricket Board.
A keen contest was anticipated, since both teams are coming off first-round defeats, and were looking to rebound with a win.
Guyana surrendered to Jamaica by 165 runs, after gaining first innings points in a road game at the Alpart Sports Club.
Leewards were crushed on home soil at Warner Park in St Kitts, when England Lions beat them by an innings and 120 runs.
But the weather forecast predicts more rain until tomorrow, so a no-result, with three points for each team, looks the most likely outcome unless there is some dramatic change in the conditions.