Napier, March 26:

A classy 83 from Brian Lara and an unbeaten 70 from Runako Morton carried the West Indies to 256/4 against New Zealand before further rain brought an early end to the second day of the third and final Test here on Sunday.

Only 78 overs have been possible in the first two days. But there has been enough time in the middle for Lara to display his magic after failing in his four previous innings on what will be his last tour of New Zealand. He rediscovered his classic, flowing stroke-play and cracked 12 fours. But as he was marching towards century, he went to pull Astle, but a bottom-edge cannoned into his legs then on to the stumps.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was run out in bizarre circumstances which saw the West Indies captain and Runako Morton at the same end. At stumps, Morton was not out 70 with Dwayne Bravo on unbeaten 22.

SL-Pakistan Test

COLOMBO: Heavy rain on Sunday caused the opening day of the first cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to be called off without a ball being bowled at Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

Match officials announced that the second day’s play will begin on Monday, 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the first session. — AP