ODI Toss Delayed Due to Traffic

LONDON: The start of the third One Day International (ODI) between England and the West Indies at The Oval was pushed back by ten minutes. The delay stemmed from the West Indies team’s late arrival to the stadium on Tuesday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stated that substantial traffic hindered the West Indies’ journey to the ground, causing the delay.

The ECB issued a brief announcement, stating, “The scheduled start of play will be delayed due to the late arrival of one of the teams, who are currently experiencing severe traffic congestion north of the river.”

The announcement further noted, “Once all team members are present, match officials will establish revised timings and evaluate any potential effects on the match schedule. We will promptly inform spectators about the updated schedule as soon as possible.”

As a result, the West Indies were unable to conduct their scheduled net practice, which was cleared by ground staff to prepare the pitch for the game.

Despite having already conceded the three-match series, the West Indies will seek to salvage a victory in this final match.

In the series opener, the West Indies suffered a significant defeat by 238 runs, with England’s Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Joe Root each scoring half-centuries. Jamie Overton and Saqib Ahmed spearheaded England’s bowling attack, each claiming three wickets.

In the subsequent game, the West Indies showcased resilience, setting a formidable target of 309 runs, highlighted by Keacy Carty’s century.

After reducing England to 2/2 and later 133/5, they initially held a strong position. However, Joe Root’s impressive innings of 166 led England to a narrow three-wicket triumph with only seven balls remaining.