Sport

England’s victory push stalled as rain leads to no play at Old Trafford

Stuart Broad left frustrated in his bid to become the seventh bowler to take 500 Test wickets

Ground staff at Old Trafford clear water off the surface on Monday. There was no play possible on the fourth day of the Third Test between England and the West Indies. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Mon Jul 27 2020 - 16:46

England’s hopes of a series-clinching victory over the West Indies and Stuart Broad’s pursuit of a 500th Test wicket were frustrated by rain as play was washed out without a ball bowled on day four at Old Trafford.

The covers remained defiantly in place throughout the day as persistent, heavy showers set in over Manchester, halting the home side’s charge after they dominated with bat and ball on Sunday. The match officials accepted the inevitable shortly after 4pm.

Having set the Windies a notional target of 399, Broad reduced them to 10 for two with his seventh and eighth wickets of the match.

That took the 34-year-old seamer to 499 career wickets and it is now a question of when, not if, he joins team-mate James Anderson in the exclusive 500 club.

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Only six bowlers in history have achieved that mark, with Anderson, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh the only pacemen.

The bad weather has played into the West Indies’ hands, knowing a draw is enough to see them retain the Wisden Trophy. But with 98 overs possible on Tuesday England will still hope to have enough time to seal a 2-1 win.

Courtney WalshGlenn McgrathJames AndersonStuart Broad