India vs Pakistan World T20: Weather gods smile as rain stops at Eden

Groundsmen work on covered field to remove rain water ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket match between India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Saturday. (AP)

 

 

Kolkata: Much to the delight of the spectators, the weather gods relented as rain, which lashed the Eden Gardens throwing a question mark over the much anticipated India-Pakistan World twenty20 match here on Saturday, finally stopped.

Heavy thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds, swept the stadium about two and a half hours before the scheduled start of the game and spectators, who had started to trickle into the stands, began to grow anxious.

The entire playing area was covered, with the groundsmen sitting on them to ensure the wind did not blow the covers away.

With the rain clearing out, the groundsmen worked on a war footing and super soppers were pressed into action to get the ground ready for the match.

Around 5 pm, amidst lightning, thunder and rain, the entire stadium was enveloped in darkness. After about half an hour, the downpour halted for a bit. There were two quick drizzles thereafter, but none lasted more than five minutes.