England face a race against time to level the series against West Indies after the third day of the second Test was washed out.
Morning drizzle turned into persistent rain at Emirates Old Trafford and, with no prospect of play, the abandonment came just after 16:00 BST.
It means England will have two days to take the 19 wickets that would tie the three-match series at 1-1.
West Indies will begin day four on 32-1 in reply to England’s 469-9 declared. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite is six not out and nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph is unbeaten on 14.
Sam Curran trapped John Campbell lbw late on day two and would have had Joseph in similar fashion had England opted to review.
England had been put in a dominant position by 176 from Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley’s 120, as West Indies’ exhausted bowlers toiled after the tourists won the toss and chose to field.
In order to force victory, England will have Sunday and Monday to twice find a way through a West Indies batting line-up that was stubborn in their first-Test win in Southampton.
They face the obstacle of a placid pitch, albeit one that has shown some signs of turn. They will also almost certainly have to enforce the follow-on, so unfashionable in the modern game.
The only occurrence of note on Saturday was the news that England pace bowler Jofra Archer has been fined an undisclosed amount and given a written warning for breaching the bio-secure protocols. (BBC Sport)
