A field experiment was conducted to study the performance of sunflower as a better alternative crop under late sown rainfed conditions. Six sunflower genotypes of different durations were evaluated and their suitability in relation to rainfall distribution was assessed. Almost all cultivars sown late have faced moisture stress at grain filling with varied stress durations. Medium duration cultivars eventhough faced with terminal drought, performed better over other maturing groups. However, short-duration cultivars were also preferred due to their early maturing character. But long-duration cultivars which experienced moisture stress at almost all crucial periods like flowering, pollination and grain filling stages were sidelined.