Bengal, Baroda wait as Eden not fit for play despite sun shine

Kolkata: For the third consecutive day the Ranji Trophy Group B match between hosts Bengal and Baroda was called off as the umpires found the Eden Gardens not suitable for play.

The rain had stopped since Sunday and there were two full bright and sunny days but the match still could not get started. There were all eyes on the match as the same pitch would be used for the opening Test between India and the West Indies in Sachin Tendulkar`s farewell series. But with the umpires calling off the proceedings for a third consecutive day, a question mark on the efficiency has cropped up ahead of the high-profile Test. "We made three inspections and found lot of moisture in the outfield. We were forced to call off the day`s action after the last inspection at 2 pm thinking about the safety of the players," match referee Manu Nayar of Delhi said. This is the first time in many years that the Eden Gardens could not be readied for a match despite the rain stopping a day before the scheduled start. CAB curator Prabir Mukherjee said they tried their best to make the ground ready but Saturday`s record downpour left them helpless. "There were still a few damp patches on the ground. But the ground would be ready before November 6 for the Test," Mukherjee said.