- Reuters
Brian Lara of the West Indies is out hit wicket off the bowling of Chris Cairns of New Zealand for 36 during their one-day international at Edgbaston, Birmingham, yesterday.
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):
THE ONE-DAY triangular series international between New Zealand and the West Indies was abandoned as a no-result yesterday because of rain.
New Zealand held the edge at 97 for two off 13.4 overs in pursuit of a Duckworth/Lewis adjusted victory target of 140 off 21 overs when showers returned to the Edgbaston ground, ending play.
The West Indies had earlier totalled 122 for four either side of a second rain delay off their allotted 21 overs.
Captain Brian Lara led the way with a sparkling 36 off 22 balls. The world record-holder smacked six fours and a six to add tempo to a stuttering West Indies innings.
New Zealand and the West Indies each collected three points from the washout.
"We would have struggled to have lost it from there," New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said after heavy rain finally forced play to be abandoned. "But these things happen."
The West Indies were under pressure from the time Ravi Rampaul's opening over spanned 12 deliveries, with four wides and two no balls, and cost 18 runs.
Jermaine Lawson brought the Caribbean men back into it with the wickets of Fleming and opening partner Nathan Astle.
Fleming was the victim of a stunning catch by Ricardo Powell at backward point, while Astle edged to first slip.
But Hamish Marshall (24 off 27 balls) and Scott Styris (26 off 26 balls) added 47 unbroken off 41 deliveries to put New Zealand in a winning spot before the weather closed in.
REDUCED TO 35 OVERS
The match had been originally reduced to 35 overs per side after morning and early afternoon showers caused the start to be delayed by nearly four hours.
New Zealand won the toss and sent in the West Indies in bowler-friendly conditions.
But left-handers Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul gave their side a solid platform by adding 56 for the first wicket.
Gayle smacked five boundaries in 30 off 49 balls before he was part of a collapse where three wickets tumbled for three runs.
Styris removed Chanderpaul and Dwayne Smith in the same over before Jacobs Oram halted Gayle's progress.
Chanderpaul (14) was leg before wicket playing across the line while Smith (1) under-edged a cut to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.
McCullum was in the action next over when he snared Gayle as he got a healthy edge trying to steer into the off side off Oram.
But Lara and his deputy Sarwan brought life to the West Indies in a stand of 56 off just 29 deliveries.
Lara made the biggest impact when he clouted Oram for 23 runs off the penultimate over of the innings. The 35-year-old left-hander hauled the first four balls for four before slashing a six off the fifth and collecting a single from the final delivery.
He eventually was out hit wicket trying to improvise in the final over.
The third match of the series pits England against the West Indies at Nottingham this morning (Ja time). The first match, between England and New Zealand at Manchester on Thursday, was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of heavy rain.
