Rain is likely to be in the headlines once again when New Zealand play the 3rd ODI against India at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Tuesday, November 10. visiting team five match series India are leading 2-0, so another weather-affected match could derail India's bid to seal the series early.
The match is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM local time, which is 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time. However, the latest weather forecast for Hamilton raises concerns of game disruption, as there is a possibility of rain and possible thunderstorms around match time.
Hamilton weather forecast for NZ vs IND 3rd ODI
According to the available forecast, there may be continuous rain in Hamilton on Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to hover around 17-18°C, while strong winds and humid conditions could add to the challenging conditions.
One forecast called for about 58 mm of rainfall for the day, with a very high chance of rain in the afternoon. Although weather models may change, the forecast suggests grounds crews may face another difficult day preparing the playing surface and outfield.
The timing of rain will be important. Rain before the scheduled start may delay the toss or make it difficult for the match to start on time. If rain arrives after play has started, frequent interruptions may reduce the number of overs available for both teams.
Field crews face yet another weather challenge
Humid conditions have already made preparations difficult at the venues during the ongoing series in New Zealand. Head Groundsman of Seddon Park Karl Johnson accepted the challenge while discussing efforts to prepare the pitch ahead of the Hamilton ODI.
“New Zealand has been quite wet the last few days, and we had a lot of rain here yesterday, so we lost some time but we have been able to prepare the pitch,” Johnson said.
He also highlighted the uncertainty around match day.
“Today is a good day, today is a beautiful day, Sunday, two days before the match day. The forecast for tomorrow is not good and the match day is also not good, so we are trying to prepare our pitches quickly, because when they sit under our covers, they sweat a bit. So yes, the weather has been challenging for everyone else in the country as well.”
How can rain affect the match?
If weather permits play, overcast and moisture affected surfaces can provide assistance to fast bowlers, especially early in the innings. Batsmen may need to remain patient, protect their wickets and make the most of any scoring opportunities.
If rain interrupts play, a shorter overs match is another possibility. In that case, the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method can set a revised target, which will depend on the overs available and the match situation.
If persistent rain prevents the result, India will retain their 2-0 series lead with two matches remaining. However, a win would give the visiting team an unbeatable 3-0 lead.