Richards, who was a big attraction with actress Neena Gupta sitting in the VIP gallery, was rather disapppointed with the result. ``Don't rule us out. Anything can happen still,'' said he. The way Curtly Ambrose bowled alongwith Kenneth Benjamin, things could be hot even for Australia, who are here in full force. That was amply seen in their nine-wicket win over Canada on another ground. Canada were dismissed for 60 and Australia reached the target in the 14th over for the loss of one wicket.

Indian coach Krish Srikkanth felt despite the loss of Sachin Tendulkar India were in with a very good chance of a win. ``But still the crucial game, as I see it, is the one with Australia. If we win that we are through to semis,'' he said. But that is still some way off as the Antiguans following their showing here today also entertain hopes of changing the script.

For the past few days, one could almost set the clock with the time the rains come here in the afternoon. The rains over the past three days had rendered the ground soggy and the covered wicket had sweated a lot. Still it was a wonder that the game began, albeit one hour 45 minutes late and the match was reduced to 41 overs apiece.

Antigua, fielding former West Indian skipper Richie Richardson, decided to bat when their skipper David Joseph won the toss. The reasoning: the wicket was soft after all the rain. But the Indians had the Antiguans on the backfoot as Debashish Mohanty and Paras Mhambrey, the former in particular bowled well. The Carribeans were three down for 13, including Richardson, as Mohanty claimed two wickets. Robin Singh added to the damage and with wickets dropping at regular intervals, the Antiguans were 77 for seven. But Ridley Jacobs one of the five -- apart from the retired Richardson -- to have donned the West Indian cap was still around holding one end up.

Jacobs put on 26 with Winston Benjamin, then another 34 with Curtly Ambrose (23) and when the allotted 41 overs ended he had put on another 27 without being separated from Kenneth Benjamin. Ajay Jadeja, the Indian skipper, did make quite a few changes after he had Antigua in trouble at 77 for seven after 20.1 overs but he would have done better by getting Tendulkar in earlier. And that in the end nearly cost India dearly.

When India went in to bat, they had one eye on the fast darkening sky. Gagan Khoda left early, and despite Tendulkar's three boundaries, India needed some time to get to the target of 165. There was slight drizzle in the sixth over and it came down in torrents in the 10th over soon after Tendulkar left trying to flick Baptiste to square leg. The ball ballooned and Cornwall took an easy catch. Then came the rains and the curtains.

Scoreboard

ANTIGUA: E Waldron c Jadeja b Mohanty 2, W Cornwall c Tendulkar b Robin Singh 3, Richie Richardson c Harbhajan b Mohanty 6, S Joseph b Harbhajan 29, D Jospeh st Prasad b Kumble 21, I Tittle c Laxman b Kumble 6, R Jacobs not out 43, W Benjamin c Harbhajan b Robin 15, E Baptiste c Tendulkar b Kumble 0, C Ambrose b Tendulkar 23, K Benjamin not out 5; Extras 11.Total: (9 wkts, 41 overs) 164.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-13, 3-13, 4-46, 5-66, 6-76, 7-77, 8-103, 9-137.

Bowling: Mohanty 4-0-13-2, Mhambrey 4-0-17-0, Robin Singh 8-0-17-2, Kumble 8-1-20-3, Harbhajan 9-0-36-1, Laxman 6-1-36-0, Tendulkar 2-0-11-1.

INDIA: S Tendulkar c Cornwall b Baptiste 15, G Khoda b Ken Benjamin 3, VVS Laxman not 6, A Jadeja not out 1; Extras 5.Total: (2 wkts, in 9.4 overs) 30.

Fall of wickets: 1-16; 2-27.

Bowling: Ambrose 4-1-4-0; Ken Benjamin 4.4-1-21-0; E Baptiste 1-0-4-1.

Result: Match abandoned. Both teams get one point.