'Bad civil engineering?': Twitterati dumbstruck after sun stops play at McLean Park during India vs New Zealand ODI

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.

India's captain Virat Kohli (L) walks from the field with teammate Shikhar Dhawan after the fierce setting sun halted play during the first ODI. AFP

"Everyone is being protected," George said, adding it was the first time in 40 years he had experienced play called off because of the sun.

The match resumed once the sun went behind the grandstand. As always, Twitter was abuzz and at the same time dumbstruck and here's how the Twitterati reacted to the bizarre stoppage.

That is a first for me. Game called off because the setting sun is in the batsman's eyes! Surely pitches have to be laid north-south!!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 23, 2019

Meanwhile in Napier...#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/3p5j18O3hg — ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2019

Sun stops play! Now I’ve seen everything

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 23, 2019

#NZvIND Worrying to see that sun has stopped play. Once play resumes, hopefully, India will quickly finish this game before moon stops play. — Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 23, 2019

Umpires in the middle. Waiting for sun to go down. (Never thought I would type that...)

Cricket, you weird beauty! #NZvInd #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/FOlSmyLMyv

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 23, 2019

Cricket - where every dam thing can stop play. Sun, rain, cats, dogs, everything. — Nikhil (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 23, 2019

NuiSUNce! Why should rain have all the fun? Power of #Yellove! #NZvIND

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 23, 2019

Bad Civil Engineering maybe, when sun stops play?#NZvIND — Varun Joshi (@el_Diablo44) January 23, 2019

With inputs from AFP