Little play for Windies as rain dents preparation

Hove (England), May 8 (IANS/CMC) Rain wrecked the final day of West Indies' three-day match against Sussex here Monday, allowing just 16 more overs before washing out play at the Probiz County Ground.

In the time available, the West Indies carried their overnight score from 46 for two to 90 for three, with left-handed opener Kieran Powell stroking 35.

The first day of the game Saturday was abandoned because of adverse weather and only 18 overs were possible on the second day after play started at 2:45 p.m. local time because of a wet outfield.

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 Shivnarine 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 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 UK visas while all-rounder Marlon Samuels was expected to join the squad Tuesday.

--IANS/CMC

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