Series ends 1-1 after rain scuppers decider
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Persistent heavy rain forced the abandonment of the decisive third One-Day International between West Indies and Afghanistan here last night, leaving the threematch series in a 1-1 stalemate.
The adverse weather, which started overnight and continued all day, refused to relent for any significant length of time, leaving the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground under water and play was eventually called off at 7:12 pm.
With the original start time of 2:30 pm delayed by 2-1/4 hours, the game was reduced to 43 overs per side when the weather finally eased somewhat late in the evening and officials managed to get the toss spun.
Afghanistan called correctly and opted to bat but the revised start time of 4:45 pm never came to fruition as the rains returned to ruin any chance of play.
The washout summed up the Windies’ fortunes in the series as they failed to really assert their dominance over the ICC Associate nation.
They crashed to a humbling 63-run defeat in the opening ODI last Friday and then laboured to overhaul 136 for victory in the second game before winning by four wickets.
West Indies’ perfomance in the series saw them drop two ratings points to fall to 77 in the ICC one-day rankings, furthering hampering their chances of automatic qualfiication for the 2019 World Cup.
They will now turn their attention to India who arrive in the Caribbean for a five-match ODI series from June 23 to July 6, following their participation in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago turned in a gallant effort but it proved insufficient as they went down 2-1 to Costa Rica, to slump to a third straight defeat in the CONCACAF final round of World Cup qualifiers here Tuesday night.
Playing at the Estadio Nacional, the visitors were in the game right to the end but the crucial equaliser never materialised, leaving them with their fifth defeat of the campaign overall and just about out of contention for a spot at the Russia showpiece next year.
They were set back as early as the opening minute when Francisco Calvo scored but roared back when