KINGSTON : Weather gods stood in the way of India’s victory charge after rain forced an early end to the fourth day with West Indies reeling at 48/4 in their second innings in the second Test here.
Rain played hide and seek at Sabina Park as the hosts lost four wickets by lunch with only 15.5 overs being bowled. While the sky was clear during the break, rain returned just minutes before the scheduled resumption of play.
No play was possible thereafter, with the day called off at 3.40 pm local time.
Tropical storm Earl hasn’t hit Jamaica with full fury, but persistent showers made sure that a lot of playing time was lost in the morning session, with forecast not too good for the remainder of the day either.
The hosts will try to save the match on day five, with play scheduled to begin at 9.30 am local time and 98 overs to be bowled in the day.
Considering the poor batting effort by the West Indies batsmen so far, it looks improbable they would make India bat again in the game.
Earlier, overnight showers made sure that 75 minutes were lost before play could resume and West Indies’ second innings could begin. Only three overs were possible before showers returned though, and forced another short break in play.
In this interim, play did get under way and Ishant Sharma (1-19) bowled Rajendra Chandrika (1), the opener shouldering arms to an incoming short delivery that was deflected onto his stumps off his arm.
After another rain break, Darren Bravo (20) joined Kraigg Brathwaite (23), and the duo never looked comfortable at the crease, particularly against Mohammed Shami (2-25) who used the conditions well.
He used the short ball to good effect against Bravo, hitting him on the forearm and the batsman was never confident thereafter. Somehow the two managed to stay at the wicket, as rain threatened to break play again.
Amit Mishra (1-4) was introduced into the attack thereafter, and after seeing through Ishant’s spell, Brathwaite played a needless stroke to get out.
He pulled a short delivery off the legspinner and Lokesh Rahul ran back from midwicket to complete the catch in the 13th over. An over later, Marlon Samuels (0) was bowled for a five-ball duck, as he left an incoming delivery from Shami. (AGENCIES)
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