England vs West Indies: Rain abandons fourth-day as England 8 wickets away from series win

The fourth day of the third and the final test between England and West Indies have finally been called off due to heavy rain in Manchester on Monday. 

Chasing a stiff target of 399 runs, West Indies were supposed to start their day on 10/2, but not a single ball was bowled on the rain-curtailed match. The gung-ho England squad and in-form Stuart Broad, who has been the major highlight of the match for many good reasons had to let go the entire day but also hoped the clouds to divert from the Old Trafford. 

The series is currently levelled at 1-1, and England only needs eight wickets to win the match as well as the three-match Test series. On the other hand, West Indies already lost its opener John Campbell (0) and nightwatchman Kemar Roach (4 runs) early in their second innings. 

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope will be resuming their second innings on the fifth day as they chase down the target set by the hosts. 

Earlier, Stuart Broad and other England bowlers dismantled the batting of West Indies, restricting them to only 197 runs in reply to their 369 runs in the first innings. 

Shane Dowrich (37 runs) and skipper Jason Holder (46 runs) tried to provide resistance to their side’s innings, however, even they felt under the trap of Stuart Broad as he finished with the figures of 6/31 at the end of West Indies’ innings. 

England came in to bat in their second innings as the openers Rory Burns (90 runs) and Dominic Sibley (56 runs) gave a solid start to the hosts. Captain Joe Root followed with the brilliant show by scoring a quickfire 68 runs off 56 balls and took the score to 226/2 before declaring the innings and set the target of 399 runs. 

West Indies would be happy that the fourth day was called off without a single delivery being bowled. They will now have the fifth day to bat and they can at least ensure of batting the whole day and push the game towards a draw. 

Whereas, England would be hoping to tear down the West Indies batting even in the second innings. Pacer Stuart Broad would be hoping to pick at least one wicket to complete 500 wickets in his Test career.