PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – For the second straight day, West Indies were left frustrated as a water-logged outfield and then rain, combined to force the abandonment of the third day of the fourth and final Test against India here yesterday.
The impaired outfield, resulting from heavy rain on Thursday’s opening day, forced officials to abort the morning session at Queen’s Park Oval, and more rain approaching midday further compounded the mop-up effort and put paid to any play for the day. And with Friday’s second day also abandoned without a ball bowled and only 1-3/4 hours play possible on the opening, West Indies captain Jason Holder said he remained hopeful of getting on the park over the last two days. “We would’ve like to get out and play in this Test match. Obviously the weather hasn’t allowed us to get onto the field,” Holder said after officials called play off around 2:30 pm.
“It’s complete saturated at the moment. Hopefully we can probably see some cricket the next two days if all goes well.” West Indies entered the game trailing 0-2 in the series and hoping for an elusive win, in order to salvage some pride. They crashed to an innings and 92-run defeat in the opening Test in Antigua, drew the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica before slumping to a heavy 237-run defeat in the third Test in St Lucia last week. With their last defeat, West Indies have now won just one Test in their last 13 outings, and are still without a Test victory over India in their last 18 games.
Holder said the two washed-out days had been frustrating for his side as they had been hoping to make a strong finish to the series.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” the all-rounder noted. “We wanted another opportunity to give ourselves a chance to win a game, and not being able to play so far has really set us back.”
West Indies, opting to bat first, had reached 62 for two just before lunch on the first day with opener Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 32 and partnered by Marlon Samuels on four. Opener Leon Johnson (9) and Darren Bravo (10) were the two wickets to fall.
