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Rain threatens as Australia launch T20 World Cup defence


By AFP
Published : 20 Oct 2022 09:08 PM

Rain threatens to derail the Twenty20 World Cup when big guns enter the fray this weekend, with Australia's opener against New Zealand and an India v Pakistan blockbuster both at risk of being washed out.

Parts of Australia are facing a third straight La Nina weather event with a wetter-than-average summer expected, and downpours are forecast for Sydney and Melbourne from Friday through to next week.

Aaron Finch's Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand at a sell-out Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday evening -- a repeat of the 2021 final in Dubai where Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 77 powered them to an eight-wicket win and maiden crown.

But the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a "very high (90 percent) chance of showers" and potentially thunderstorms, with no reserve days for group games. They only come into play for the semi-finals and final.

It looks equally gloomy for Sunday in Melbourne where India face Pakistan in a hotly-anticipated clash with up to 100,000 fans in the cavernous MCG and tens of millions more tuning in to watch.

A minimum of five overs a side is required to constitute a match.

The weather could also cause havoc in Hobart where games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, although England's opener against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday has a fine weather forecast.

Australia have a golden opportunity to become the first back-to-back T20 world champions, enjoying the advantage of being the only winners of cricket's shortest format to have a crack at defending the title at home.

But they begin their campaign on the back of a 2-0 series loss to England this month and with Finch admitting they were "tired" after a gruelling build-up.

Despite the tough lead-in, pace spearhead Pat Cummins insisted they were better placed after defying the odds to win last year's title.