ISLAMABAD: Persistent rain at Saxton Oval denied fans another exciting contest between New Zealand and the West Indies, as the fourth T20I was abandoned after just 39 balls on Wednesday.
The washout means the Blackcaps now hold an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the final game scheduled for Thursday in Dunedin.
Dark clouds hovered over the venue from the start, with forecasts predicting heavy showers throughout the afternoon and evening.
Despite the bleak outlook, play began on time, but rain delays soon followed — the first lasting around 30 minutes after just five overs.
Play resumed briefly before another downpour, nine balls later, forced the umpires to call off the match.
Frequent play-and-miss moments
During the brief period of play, New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy took full advantage of the overcast conditions, keeping West Indies openers Alick Athanaze and Amir Jangoo under pressure with sharp swing and disciplined lines on a used surface.
The visitors managed just two fours and two sixes between overs two and five, amid frequent play-and-miss moments.
James Neesham struck in the sixth over to remove Athanaze, while Jangoo found the middle of the bat for a boundary through cover, helping the West Indies reach 35 by the end of the powerplay before the rain intervened.
