BIRMINGHAM, England, CMC – The third and final Test between England and West Indies limped to a sorry end here yesterday after rain returned to wreck the final day and force a no decision in the weather-marred contest at Edgbaston.
Persistent rain, which caused the complete washout of the first two days, swept across the West Midlands leaving umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Tony Hill with no choice but to call off play at 3:12 pm.
England won the series 2-0 after victories at Lord’s and Trent Bridge.
England were poised to resume their first innings at 221 for five in reply to West Indies’ 426, with Ian Bell unbeaten on 76.
Captain Darren Sammy told reporters afterward he was pleased with how his side had performed in the time available on the third and fourth days.
“The sessions of play we got I think we dominated. The way Tino Best and [Denesh] Ramdin played for us, not forgetting Marlon [Samuels], the way he batted throughout the series,” Sammy said.
“It’s just the way we said we would come up here with a never-say-die attitude and that last wicket partnership was just a perfect example of the attitude we have. It was great to watch.
“Then we came out on that same flat wicket and got five wickets. With more play, you never know what could happen.” West Indies produced a fantastic first innings effort after they were sent in, with Ramdin getting an unbeaten 107 and tail-ender Best scoring 95 – the highest score by a number 11 in Test history.
Their partnership of 143 was the third highest in Tests and a record for West Indies against England.
Samuels chipped in with 76 to follow up and his century and unbeaten half-century at Trent Bridge, to finish with 386 runs at an average of 96 and earn the Player-of-the-Series award for West Indies.
Best, meanwhile, in his first game of the series, claimed the Man-of-the-Match award after also claiming two for 37 in the England innings.
West Indies will now head back to London for a one-day warm-up fixture against Middlesex at Lord’s tomorrow before turning their attention to the limited overs series which starts with the opening One-Day International in Southampton on Saturday.
