Test heads for draw as third day is washed out

The final Test between New Zealand and West Indies slumped further towards a draw when the third day's play was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. The forecast had always been for rain but both teams would have been hoping against hope that the weathermen would get it wrong. They did not. At first the start of play was delayed, then finally after interminable delays Mark Benson and Ian Howell, the umpires, called play off.

It's now extremely hard to imagine any sort of positive result in the game. With three days gone West Indies have reached 256 for 4 in their first innings. Only 78.1 overs have been bowled of the 270 that would have been possible in three days had there been no interruptions. What's more, with more rain forecast over Tuesday and Wednesday there is little to look forward to for either side.

West Indies, and especially Runako Morton, would not at all mind if there was a dry spell. Morton has batted enthusiastically for 70 so far, and will be keen to get the 30 runs he needs to notch up his maiden Test century. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. All in all, though, it looks as though the 2-0 scoreline is extremely unlikely to change.