BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP)
FOR THE fourth consecutive day, the match between Barbados and the Windward Islands was suspended yesterday because of rain forcing a complete washout of the opening round in the Carib Beer regional cricket tournament.
After inspecting the soggy field, umpires Vincent Bullen and Vivian Johnson decided to suspend play on the fourth and final day of the match.
The first three days were also abandoned without a ball bowled after heavy showers belted the University of the West Indies cricket ground on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was the first time since sponsored regional first-class competition began in 1966 that a four-day match was completely rained out in Barbados.
Barbados, the defending champion, and the Windward Islands each collect four points as a result of the washout.
"That pasture does not look safe for players to go on and you can't force players to go out there," Bullen said.
"You can't risk players at this present moment," he added. "We have nine more series to go and it wouldn't be right to put players on that outfield now to get injured. You have to protect the players."
Windward Islands manager Lockhart Sebastien was frustrated by the delay.
"It has set us back. We probably have to start over again," Sebastien said. "We play against Jamaica starting on Friday and they are playing at the moment so they are going to be way ahead of us."
The Windward Islands hosts Jamaica in St. Lucia in the second match of the 10-round tournament, while Barbados entertain Trinidad and Tobago at the North Stars ground in the northern parish of St. Lucy.
