Update at 5:25 PM local: The first ODI has been abandoned with no signs of the rain relenting at Pallekele.
The
opening ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand has been delayed by persistent
rain at Pallekele in Kandy. The ground has been almost covered but there is
lots of water on the covers and it continues to rain. It is learnt that it has
been raining relentlessly for more than 72 hours at Pallekele. The cause of the
bad weather is none other than Cyclone Nilam which has headed towards South
Eastern India after drenching Sri Lanka completely.