BASSETERRE – Only 28 deliveries were possible as rain wrecked the one-off Twenty20 International between West Indies and Bangladesh Wednesday night.
Bangladesh were cruising at 31 without loss after 4.4 overs when heavy rain swept across Warner Park at 8:17 p.m., driving players and officials from the field and resulting in a protracted break of nearly two hours.
When the rain finally eased and the covers were removed, match officials made a 10:35 p.m. inspection and following a discussion, decided to call the encounter off.
The result was disappointing for both teams but especially for Bangladesh who would have been looking to find their stride after three heavy defeats in the preceding One-Day International series.
Anamul Haque, unbeaten on 19 and opening partner Tamim Iqbal, not out on 11, gave the tourists a solid start after they won the toss and chose to bat.
They were initially bridled by left-arm spinner Krismar Santokie’s opening over which cost just six runs, and fellow left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell who bowled a maiden next up.
However, Tamim broke the shackles by lifting the first ball of the next over over cover to record Bangladesh’s first boundary, and Anamul followed suit a few balls later with a rasping backfoot drive to the ropes at extra cover, as Santokie conceded 12 runs.
Cottrell kept the duo in check with a five-run third over but the introduction of seamer Dwayne Bravo saw Anamul hooking the second ball over fine leg for the first six of the innings.
Only two more deliveries were possible before rain ended proceedings abruptly.
The match officials held a final inspection more than two hours later after which they decided conditions weren’t good enough even for a shortened game.
Besides the downpour, the groundstaff had to battle strong winds, which left them struggling to control the covers early on. The extra time they took to cover the surface allowed the deluge to drench the pitch. There was also trouble with the floodlights which hampered the groundstaff in their work after the rain stopped.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the two-Test series which bowls off next Friday at Arnos Vale in St Vincent. (CMC)
