Persistent rain hit Sri Lankan World Cup aspirations

Christchurch: Sri Lanka picked up five crucial Super League points when their ODI against New Zealand was abandoned but their hopes of direct qualification to the Cricket World Cup 2023 remain hanging by a thread.

New Zealand's fickle weather has once again proven costly for Sri Lanka as the second ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League ODI between the two sides was abandoned without a ball bowled.

The frustrating outcome in the second ODI of the series has left Sri Lanka’s direct qualification hopes for this year's ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup hanging by a thread with one match to play.

Earlier this month the rain in Christchurch robbed Sri Lanka of valuable time on the fifth and final day of a thrilling Test match against the Kiwis, and the skies above New Zealand's third largest city again played spoilsport as persistent rain meant there was no play at all at Hagley Oval on Tuesday.

It meant Sri Lanka missed the chance to strengthen their claims of qualifying directly for this year's Cricket World Cup and now face the prospect of having to qualify via the Qualifier tournament set to be played in Zimbabwe during June and July.

Sri Lanka only have one match remaining in the Super League, with their clash against New Zealand in the third and final ODI in Hamilton on Friday their last chance to overtake the West Indies and move into a critical top-eight place to qualify automatically for this year's tournament.