Rain break: Conditions improve for England vs West Indies

Associated Press
West Indies' captain Jason Holder , left, and West Indies' Oshane Thomas smile as they leave the pitch as rain stops play during the World Cup cricket match between South Africa and the West Indies at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, Monday, June 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP) — The sun was out in Southampton and the prospects for a Cricket World Cup game getting started were high.

After just one completed game since Sunday, top-ranked England and West Indies were meeting at Hampshire's Rose Bowl on Friday with hopes high of a result.

West Indies had to share the points here with South Africa last Monday, when only 7.3 overs were played before the group game was washed out.

Since then, games in Bristol and Nottingham were abandoned without a ball bowled and defending champion Australia got enough dry weather in Taunton on Wednesday to beat Pakistan by 41 runs.

England has two wins and a loss — against Pakistan — leading into Friday's contest against the West Indies, who beat Pakistan and lost to Australia before their washout against South Africa.

One of the highlights of the contest will be how Barbados-born Jofra Archer handles playing for England against the West Indies.

The forecast is for overcast conditions with a slight chance of rain in Southampton on Friday.

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