World Test Championship final: Rain washes out fourth day

THE fourth day of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand was washed out due to persistent rain in Southampton on Monday (21).

This is the second time in the match when the day's play has been lost entirely without a ball being bowled.

Overnight and early morning rain meant the pitch and square at Hampshire's headquarters remained fully covered when the match should have resumed at 10:30 am local time (0930 GMT).

Play was finally abandoned for the day at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT), with Friday's (18) first day having suffered a similar fate.

However, match referee Chris Broad, has a special dispensation to extend this final into the sixth day - - if he feels that will compensate for time lost in the game.

An absorbing day of cricket on Sunday (20) was cut short by bad light despite the use of the Hampshire Bowl's floodlights, ended with New Zealand 101 for 2 in reply to India's first innings 217 - a deficit of 116 runs.

New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson took an impressive 5 for 31 in 22 overs - the paceman's fifth five-wicket haul in just eight career Tests.

Blackcaps opener Devon Conway fell for 54 two balls before the close.

It was his third score of over fifty in just five Test innings following the 29-year-old South Africa-born left-hander's stunning 200 on his debut against England at Lord's earlier this month.

India bowled well in helpful conditions with fast bowler Ishant Sharma having figures of 1 for 19 at Sunday's close and offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin 1 for 20.