7.55pm Breaking news The match has been called off, as expected. The players are shaking hands with the umpires in the middle. A shame as we were looking forward to the chase after India's up-and-down innings that started well, was pulled back by Murali and then Dhoni and Gambhir had a thrilling partnership which really handed them the advantage. Thanks a lot for joining us today.

7.50pm The umpires are walking out into the middle for the obligatory inspection, reports our super sleuth Nagraj Gollapudi.

7.45pm Not holding out much hope, friends. And Ahmed's back. "The system is moving slower than anticipated. It should take a while before the rain stops completely. By then, we would all be home."

We're really running out of time now and the rain's just not easing off, I'm afraid. They're going to decide in ten minutes.

7.20pm "Most of the rain is almost over," reckons Aussie Ahmed who's either psychic, living in the area, or has been on a weather website. "It should clear up within half an hour." Let's hope so as time is a-ticking.

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7.00pm Well, the news is not good news. It's steadily raining, the covers are nailed down in the middle and collecting puddles. The crowd are hanging round, though, wellybobs out. The cut-off time is 8.21 according to the India media manager.

If we were a TV company - technically I suppose we're owned by one, ESPN - it would be time for replays, with a big flashing R in the top right corner for extra retro effect. So here's the highlight of India's innings:

44.1 Jayasuriya to Dhoni, SIX, Dhoni at his best! Brings up the fifty in quality style, with a huge stand-and-deliver six over long-on, played on the up and up, throwing all his weight behind that

Being nice, I'll find you a few links to amuse you while we're waiting and note that New Zealand have just lost to England at Twenty20. Here you go, this will keep us all amused for ages. A free magazine online, how lucky is that? Or, if you're in the mood to play we've got that for you too.

Big shame if this match is also washed out, of course, as it's looking like because that would mean both of the first two matches would have fallen to the same fate.

6.20pm local time The news isn't great from the Gabba as the rain is coming down steadily. The forecast isn't extra special either but fingers crossed there's still time to squeeze a game in, however truncated.

There's a bit of drizzle still on. Play should be getting under way about now but the covers are on and now we can see a couple of the players in the outfield messing about with a couple of remote controlled cars in some sort of race. Strange things happen at cricket matches these days. Previously when it rained the players just sat in the dressing-room with a pack of cards ... now they're racing remote-controlled cars on the outfield.

5.35pm local time The resumption of play after the break has been delayed because of rain. At the moment no time has been set on when play can begin as it's still raining. Until the rain stops there's not much anyone can do. However, looking at the bright side of things no overs will be lost for the first 45 minutes of the rain delay as that much time can be made up.

While you're waiting for play to start there's plenty of stuff you can do. If you're a fantasy cricket buff, click here to create your teams for the Australia-India and New Zealand-England series. There are Apple iPods to be won every match in the Australia- India competition.

Well, India owe everything to Gambhir and Dhoni who have put on ten runs an over for the last ten overs to boost them to a very competitive 4 for 267 on this track. Commendable effort from the pair who were just shy of a 200-run stand. Sri Lanka's bowlers did a fine job for the majority of the innings but will now look to their batsmen to try to overhaul the total. It promises to be an excellent chase so do join us again shortly.

He's made Sri Lanka pay for that drop earlier

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