4th Test: Wet outfield delays play on second day

Dashing hopes of an early start, wet outfield and soggy conditions around the pitch delayed play on the second day of the fourth Test between India and West Indies at Queen's Park Oval here on Friday.

Though it has been sunny and bright since morning, the first two-hour session was lost after heavy downpour cut short play on the first day from post-lunch session and left the ground with pools of rain water all around on Thursday.

"Umpire Red Tucker and Nigel Llong, who inspected the ground at 11.30 a.m., decided to inspect again at 1 p.m., as they were not satisfied with the ground conditions because the infield was still soft," an official said.

Play is expected to resume in the post-lunch session if the outfield dries up and continue till the last session with no further rain or thunderstorm as predicted.

Heavy rains and thunderstorms subsequently washed off rest of the game after an hour and 45 minutes of play when the hosts were 62/2 in 22 overs.

Unlike in the third Test at St Lucia last week, which India won by a huge 237 run margin on August 13, Windies skipper Jason Holder opted to bat first on winning the toss on Thursday.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite (32*) and veteran batsman Marlon Samuels (4*) were at the crease when rain interrupted the match ahead of lunch.

The hosts got off to a poor start, losing opener Leon Johnson (9) and one-down Darren Bravo (10) cheaply to seamer Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin respectively.

The visitors, eyeing to consolidate their numero uno status in Test cricket, went in with a different strategy in the match with skipper Virat Kohli preferring an additional batsman in contrast to his usual six batsman-five bowlers theory.

With no let-up in the rain, the umpires called of the game for the day.

India lead the four-match series 2-0, after the second Test at St. Kitts ended in a draw.

Brief Scores: West Indies 62/2 (Kraigg Brathwaite 32 not out, Darren Bravo 10, Marlon Samuels 4 not out, Ishant Sharma 1/7, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/22) vs India.

--IANS

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