HOVE, England, CMC – West Indies’ preparation for their three-Test series against England continued to take a battering when rain wrecked the final day of their three-day match against Sussex here yesterday.
Only 16 overs were possible before the adverse weather plaguing the country returned to wash out play at the Probiz County Ground, with West Indies having reached 90 for three.
In the time available, West Indies carried their overnight score form 46 for two to 90 for three, with left-handed opener Kieran Powell stroking 35.
Resuming the day on 18, the 22-year-old opener stroked four fours in an innings that lasted 108 minutes and required 71 balls.
He looked accomplished in adding 22 for the third wicket with veteran Shiv Chanderpaul before needlessly flirting with a wide ball from left-arm seamer Naved Arif and being taken behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Stylish left-hander Darren Bravo brightened another dreary day with three typically attractive cover driven boundaries in his unbeaten 19, as he put on a further 23 with Chanderpaul for the fourth wicket.
Overall, he faced 60 balls in 70 minutes at the crease.
Chanderpaul hardly put a foot wrong in three-quarters of an hour at the crease and was unbeaten on nine when rain returned to end play for the day.
The first day of the game on Saturday was abandoned because of the adverse weather and only 18 overs were possible on the second day after play got started at 2:45 pm (9:45 am Eastern Caribbean time) because of a wet outfield.
West Indies were down to a skeleton squad for the game with three members of the 15-man squad yet to arrive.
Batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin are stuck in Jamaica awaiting United Kingdom visas while all-rounder Marlon Samuels is still en route from India.