Rain ruins English charge
Manchester, July 27: Rain wiped out the fourth day’s play at Old Trafford on Monday to frustrate England’s bid for a seriesclinching win over the West Indies and keep Stuart Broad waiting for his 500th Test wicket.
Bad weather meant the whole of the penultimate day’s play in the deciding third Test was washed out, with the umpires finally abandoning any hope of action soon after 4:00 pm (1500 GMT).
England do, however, still have one day left to press for a win that would see them take the threematch series 2-1. Broad is just one wicket away from becoming only the seventh bowler to join the “500 club” after taking all six West Indies wickets that fell on Sunday.
He returned firstinnings figures of 6-31 as West Indies were bundled out for 197 in reply to England’s 369, which included Broad’s dashing 62.
And after England made 226-2 declared in their second innings, featuring Rory Burns’ 90 and fifties
from captain Joe Root and Dom Sibley, there was still time for Broad to strike twice by removing John Campbell and nightwatchman Kemar Roach.
That left Broad, controversially omitted from West Indies’ win in the
series opener at Southampton, on 499 Test wickets. The only seamers ahead of Broad are his long-time England new-ball colleague James Anderson (589), Glenn McGrath (563) and the West Indies’ Courtney
Walsh (519) — AFP
BRIEF SCORES
■ Day 4: England 369 & 226/2 decl. (Rory Burns 90, Joe Root 68 n.o) vs West Indies 197 & 10/2 in 6 overs (Shai Hope batting 4; Stuart Broad 2/8)