May 14, 2007	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 26, 1428

TAUNTON (England), May 13: Rain washed out the second day of West Indies' tour match against Somerset at Taunton here on Sunday without a ball being bowled.

This match is West Indies' only game before the first Test of a four-match series starts at Lord's on Thursday and bad weather meant only 48 overs were possible Saturday, the first day of three.

During what play was possible West Indies scored 237 for four featuring 103 from Runako Morton. Together with the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul (82 not out), Morton shared a stand of 193 after the tourists had slumped to 44 for four after winning the toss on a pitch renowned as a good batting track.

“It's normal this time of year in England for the ball to nip around a bit,” Morton said.

“I've played here a few times so I'm aware of that, the key thing is to play positively,

play straight and not push at

too many deliveries away from your body,” the 28-year-old added.

“It's a matter of getting accustomed to the conditions, getting accustomed to playing in these conditions and playing within your strengths,” said Morton, who has played six Tests, the last against Pakistan in Karachi in December.

Morton reached his century off just 115 balls with two sixes and 15 fours but on 103 retired hurt when he limped off with a leg problem and was replaced by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who kept Chanderpaul company until the close.

But Morton said he had no serious injury concerns. “It was a slight strain to my right thigh and it's going to be fine, nothing to worry about.”

The tour of England is West Indies' first since the retirement of former captain and star batsman Brian Lara. Former vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan is now leading the team.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle b Turner 24

D. Ganga lbw b Jones 2

D.S. Smith c Hildreth b Jones 5

R.R. Sarwan lbw b Jones 10

S. Chanderpaul not out 82

R.S. Morton retired hurt 103

D.J. Bravo not out 6

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, NB-3) 5

TOTAL (for four wkts, 48.4 overs) 237

FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-32, 3-32, 4-44.

TO BAT: D. Ramdin, D.J.G. Sammy, D.B. Powell, J.E. Taylor, C.D. Collymore, F.H. Edwards.

BOWLING (to-date): Jones 18.4-2-74-3; Turner 10-0-65-1 (3nb); Andrew 8-0-37-0; Munday 11-0-55-0; Parsons 1-0-4-0.

SOMERSET: K.A. Parsons, P.D. Trego, N.J. Edwards, M.J. Wood, M.K. Munday, I.D. Blackwell, G.M. Andrew, J.C. Hildreth, P.S. Jones, W.J. Durston, C. Kieswetter, M.L. Turner.

UMPIRES: S.A. Garnett and R. Palmer.

—Agencies