Downpour halts New Zealand charge in Bridgetown Test

Bridgetown (Barbados), June 30 (IANS/CMC) A torrential downpour has halted play at the scheduled tea interval on the penultimate day of the decisive third Test between West Indies and New Zealand here Sunday.

New Zealand were making excellent headway at 314 for six when the rains arrived an hour after lunch to send players off the field, reports CMC.

Kane Williamson was unbeaten on a career-best 153 and was partnered by Tim Southee on two.

From a lunch time position of 260 for five, the Black Caps lost wicketkeeper Bradley-John Watling for 29, caught at gully by Jason Holder to give fast bowler Kemar Roach his fourth wicket of the innings and 100th of his 26-Test career.

Williamson, whose previous best was 135 against Sri Lanka two years ago, has so far faced 262 balls in an innings spanning six hours, and including 21 fours.

Brief scores:

New Zealand: 293 (Jimmy Neesham 78, Mark Craig 46 not out, Ross Taylor 45, Kane Williamson 43, Brendon McCullum 31; Sulieman Benn 5/93, Kemar Roach 4/61) and 314 for six (Kane Williamson 153 not out, Jimmy Neesham 51, Bradley-John Watling, Brendon McCullum 25; Kemar Roach 4/46, Jason Holder 2/26).

West Indies: (Kraigg Brathwaite 68, Kirk Edwards 58, Denesh Ramdin 45, Chris Gayle 42, Jason Holder 38; Neil Wagner 4/64, Jimmy Neesham 2/12, Trent Boult 2/71).