Rain halts first session as Windies reach 62/2 in fourth Test

Port of Spain, Aug 18 (IANS) Rain played spoilsport in the first session of the opening day of the fourth and final Test between India and the West Indies, as the hosts reached 62/2 before the interruption at the Queen's Park Oval here on Thursday.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite (32) and veteran batsman Marlon Samuels (4) were at the crease until the rain interruption as India managed to sneak in two quick wickets in the first hour of play, where only 22 overs could be bowled.

Winning the toss and electing bat, the hosts were off to a poor start losing opener Leon Johnson (9) and one-down Darren Bravo (10) cheaply.

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.

Unfazed with the new combination, pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami gave India a good start from which first change seamer Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin benefited by taking the wickets of Johnson and Bravo respectively.

With the rains refusing to stay away, the umpires called for lunch.

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

tri/