Rain ends chance of result: Cricket

West Indies 427 and 241-4 dec; India 346 and 99-2 Match drawn

Both the West Indies and India took heart from the drawn first Test of the five-match series that ended on Monday when rain effectively washed out the final day.

More than two hours were lost, and with them the possibility of a result. India, set 323 to win after the West Indies declared, were 99 for 2 at stumps.

"Obviously we would have liked to have had the chance to press for a win," Courtney Walsh, the West Indies captain, said. "But we can't fight the weather. These things do happen and I thought we came out of the game well."

Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian captain, said: "It is the first time since Pakistan in 1989 that we've drawn the first Test of an away series so I think it's a good start."

The form of Anil Kumble was encouraging for the Indians: the leg-spinner took eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. The batting of Venkata Laxman, opening the batting for the first time in Tests, Rahul Dravid and Nayan Mongia also impressed.

The biggest plus for the West Indies was man of the match Franklyn Rose. The 25-year-old took seven wickets on his Test debut and upstaged his more illustrious pace partners.

One worry for the West Indies is the fitness of Ian Bishop. He left the field towards the end of Monday complaining of pain in his right leg. The second Test begins in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Friday.

Final day; West Indies won toss

WEST INDIES - First Innings 427 (C L Hooper 129, B C Lara 83, S Chanderpaul 52; A R Kumble 5-120).

INDIA - First Innings 346 (N Mongia 78, V Laxman 64; F A Rose 6-100).

WEST INDIES - Second Innings 241 for 4 dec (B C Lara 78).

INDIA - Second Innings

V V S Laxman c Holder b Rose 27

N S Sidhu c Holder b Walsh 0

R S Dravid not out 51

*S R Tendulkar not out 15

Extras (lb1 nb5) 6

Total (for 2) 99

Fall: 1-6 2-68.

Bowling: Ambrose 6-3-7-0; Walsh 8-3-7-1 (nb2); Rose 9-1-23-1 (nb3); Hooper 16-6 27-0; Chanderpaul 6-0-18-0; Lara 3-0-16-0.

Umpires: S Bucknor (WI) and M Kitchen (Eng).