Aus v WI 3rd Test Day 2 Review: Play called off after tea as rain plays spoilsport

The covers are back again on the field’ was the most frequently used phrase today morning. Rain that had consumed 15 overs of play yesterday came back again with more intensity to delay and interrupt the match right from the start of the day. Only 11.2 overs of play was possible until tea and West Indies could add only 41 runs to their overnight total of 207. However, they lost the wicket of Carlos Brathwaite by tea, who batted excellently to score an almost run-a-ball innings of 69 off 71.

Denesh Ramdin and Brathwaite started on a positive note in the morning session where only four overs of play was possible in the rain-hit first session before lunch was called. There was a 10-minute delay to the start and Nathan Lyon could bowl only three balls before it started drizzling again.

Lyon could complete his over only after an 80-minute gap. The rain forced the players to go back to the dressing room after just three more overs were bowled. But, luckily some play (not more 8 overs though) was possible after they came back to the field.

Braithwaite shunned the cautious approach and batted with aggression in the second half of the day. There was a short duel between the bat and ball as Braithwaite went full force against Pattinson’s pace. He brought up his half-century in style after he welcomed James Pattinson with two consecutive fours. Pattinson’s next overs was also thumped for two sixes overs extra cover and backward square leg. But that was it, Pattinson sought revenge in his next over after Braithwaite missed a swing on the leg side and was clean bowled. He was bowling fast and was so far able to induce him into false strokes but luck in some way favored Braithwaite as he connected all his slogs.

After the fall of his wicket rain began to shower again and tea was taken. The drizzle didn’t stop and the play was called off. Denesh Ramdin was unbeaten at 30 while the new batsman Kemar Roach is yet to open his account.

Brief score:

West Indies: 248/7 in 86.2 overs (K Braithwaite 85, C Braithwaite 69; James Pattinson 2/67)