Carlos Brathwaite shone briefly for the West Indies, but the rain was the only real winner yesterday as wet weather washed away all but 11.2 overs of play on the second day of the third Test against Australia.
The West Indies were 248 for seven in their first innings when the rain interrupted play for the third and final time a half-hour after lunch in the wake of Brathwaite’s dismissal for 69.
Play was officially abandoned at 4:35pm as the rain continued to cascade down on Sydney Cricket Ground, with the 14,266 optimistic souls who came through the gates despite the gloomy forecast offered a full refund.
Photo: AFP
That meant the flurry of boundaries with which Brathwaite lit up the few overs of action was ultimately a free show and the 27-year-old was warmly applauded for it by an appreciative crowd.
Resuming on 35, with his team on 207 for six, the tall, muscular Bajan showed why he has been one of the few bright spots for the West Indies on what has otherwise been a miserable tour.
Playing his second Test after scoring 59 on debut in Melbourne last week, Brathwaite smashed four sixes and seven fours in his 71-ball innings.
One of the two sixes he hit in one over off Australia paceman James Pattinson was a spectacular heave over the covers and deep into the crowd.
However, a fuming Pattinson had his revenge when he found his range and took out Brathwaite’s off stump with what the batsman described as a “good nut.”
“I was upset that, once again, I got a start and could not carry on. One of the main mantras in cricket is that, when things are going good, you maximize,” Brathwaite said.
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