CRICKET: South Afircan match referee Mike Procter has said the players' safety was the main reason for calling off the third one-day international between India and the West Indies in Rajkot.
"I took the measures I did to prevent serious injuries to the players," said Procter after awarding the abandoned match to India following crowd trouble.
India were declared winners as per the Duckworth-Lewis system used for curtailed matches.
The hosts were strongly placed at 200-1 off 27.1 overs chasing a target of 301 when bottle-throwing spectators held up play, forcing players off the field.
West Indian paceman Vasbert Drakes and substitute Ryan Hinds were hit with bottles thrown by a section of the crowd at the 18,000-capacity Madhavrao Scindia stadium.
Meanwhile, England's Chris Silverwood touched down in Tasmania determined to make the most of his opportunity on the Ashes tour even if that signals the end of county team-mate Matthew Hoggard's run in England's Test line-up.
Yorkshire fast bowler Silverwood, flown in as a replacement for Simon Jones following his ruptured cruciate ligament injury during the first Test, linked up with the squad for the first time in Hobart aiming to make an impact in the short time he has to impress England's management.
