Sun stops play: Fierce sunset halts New Zealand-India cricket match

NAPIER: Rain often disrupts cricket, but in New Zealand it was the sun that forced players off the field on Wednesday during the one-day international between New Zealand and India.

The sun, shining down the Napier wicket, was too bright for batsmen, fielders and umpires, and senior umpire Shaun George took the players off the field with India 44 for one in reply to New Zealand´s 157.

"Everyone is being protected," George said, adding it was the first time he had experienced play called off because of the sun.

Play resumed after about 30 minutes, with the disruption reducing the match by one over. India´s target was reduced by two runs.

In addition to the usual rain and bad light, cricket matches have been stopped for a variety of bizarre reasons over the years.

An unseasonal April snowstorm in 2016 suspended a county match between Somerset and Surrey at London´s Oval.

A 1980 Test match between India and England in Mumbai had to be rescheduled due to a solar eclipse.

And a match in South Africa´s domestic Castle Cup in 1995 was delayed for 10 minutes after a shot for six landed in a pan of fried calamari, forcing the players to wait for the ball to cool down.