Runfest or damp squib?

At the end of the net session yesterday, head coach Russell Domingo, while having a chat with this reporter, opined: “It looks like a 170-180 wicket.”

He was keen on the match just as the players were and agreed that the Tigers looked ‘vibrant’ on the field. With a high-scoring pitch on offer, line and length from the bowlers will have to be just right.

The only two T20Is played here have produced high-scoring affairs. In 2013, a 35-ball 77 from Yuvraj Singh saw the hosts eclipse Australia’s 201 while Colin Munro ran rampant in 2017 with a ton as the Kiwis posted 196 before India fell 40 runs short.

However, against the backdrop of a cyclone, rain is a possibility today with showers and gusts of wind in the early evening raking across the ground and causing some damage to infrastructure yesterday.

The ground has a good drainage system but it is difficult to say what will transpire tomorrow in case of heavy showers. Skipper Mahmudullah too spoke of a 170-180 wicket being on offer but only time will tell whether moisture plays a part in tactics and lineups for both sides.