WestpacTrust Park was a dismal sight this morning as light overnight rain showed no sign of abating and heavy overcast hung over Hamilton, creating considerable doubt about the prospect of play on the first day of the ninth round Shell Trophy match between Northern Districts and Otago.

An immediate decision was made to assess matters at the official lunch break. However, by then a heavier burst of rain and the run-off from the new banks created at the city end of the park had done their worst.

By the middle of the day, lakes were forming on the outfield, suggesting that if the rain stopped immediately - which absent any breeze seemed unlikely - the prospect of the ground drying out before the end of the day seemed most doubtful.

So the plug was pulled - a most appropriate expression given the conditions - in the hope that the weather will improve and the water will have drained away by tomorrow morning, leaving Northern and Otago to begin their search for key points at the top of the table on time at 10.30am.

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