Rain ruins second Test final day

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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Persistent rain spoiled the final day of an absorbing contest, forcing a disappointing draw in the second and final Test between West Indies and India yesterday.

With West Indies set to resume the day on 76 for two in pursuit of an improbable 365 for victory, rain at Queen’s Park Oval virtually all day ensured players remained off the field, and there was little surprise when match officials pulled the plug at the scheduled tea interval.

The showers had eased up long enough in the morning session for ground staff to remove the covers, but once the adverse weather returned in the afternoon, there was little or no chance of play becoming a reality.

“We showed some fight with the bat in this game. That was a good fight,” captain Kraigg Brathwaite said afterwards.

“Bowling wise, we could still be more disciplined. Generally, it was a good comeback by the batters in this game. We lost five wickets for just 20 runs yesterday … the key from here is obviously to be consistent.”

The game was set up nicely, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) and vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood (20 not out) already having posted 32 in an unbroken third-wicket stand.

They pulled the innings around from an unstable position of 44 for two in the final session on Sunday’s penultimate day when veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice to remove Brathwaite for 28 and debutant left-hander Kirk McKenzie without scoring.

West Indies had lost their last five wickets for 26 runs inside the first hour on Sunday to be all out for 255, conceding a first-innings lead of 183.

India then quickly rattled up 181 for two declared to leave West Indies with a difficult chase.

Seamer Mohammed Siraj was adjudged Man of the Match for his five-wicket haul.

India captured the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Dominica by an innings and 141 runs.