Windies short of work after rain wrecks final day

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies will enter the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle next week with precious little match practice after the final day of their tour game against the President’s XI was washed out yesterday.

The washout represented the second straight day play was abandoned and leaves the tourists’ match preparation severely hampered ahead of the opening November 15-19 Test.  West Indies’ batsmen will enter the match short of work after they collapsed to a paltry 176 on the opening day of the tour match on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Only vice-captain Brendan Nash, who top-scored with 62, got among the runs while veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul got 33. There will also concern around the young bowling attack which sent down 13 overs in just over an hour in the field, as the President’s XI reached 59 for three.

With no play on Friday, West Indies went through sessions in the indoor and outdoor nets, as well as engaging in gym work.
The side will travel to the southern city of Galle early today for of the start of the first Test.