Lara - steadied the ship (Getty Images).

By Brenden Nel, PA International, Benoni

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West Indies were robbed of two vital points after their Pool B game with Bangladesh was abandoned as steady rain set in over Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

The game was finally called off at 5pm local time (1500 GMT) after it became apparent that no further play could take place.

Bangladesh had made a shaky start to their reply to West Indies' total of 244 for nine, making 32 for two when rain interrupted play after 8.1 overs.

The match being declared a no result is a blow to the Windies and is a boost to both New Zealand and South Africa as it stopped the West Indies from securing maximum points.

West Indian batsman Ricardo Powell had hit a swashbuckling 50 off just 31 balls to propel his side to their total and was ably supported by 40s by captain Carl Hooper and Brian Lara.

Powell hit three fours and four massive sixes as he showed scant regard for the opposition.

But as he reached his 50, Powell mistimed the next ball as he tried to hook Manjural Islam and was caught by Mohammad Ashraful on the boundary.

Bangladesh had removed both openers early and then took out Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

While Hooper chipped in with a quick 45 off 50 balls, the Windies struggled on a soft wicket in the overcast conditions.

Lara scored slowly for his 46 off 76 balls before scooping the ball up to Al Sahariar to give the fielder his second catch.

Sarwan looked subdued in his 13 from 28 balls before paddling the ball back to bowler Khaled Mahmud for a simple catch.

Lara and Shrivnarine Chanderpaul had rescued the Windies, following the early removal of Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle, by putting on a 68-run partnership.

The pair looked well set before Chanderpaul was trapped lbw by Ehsanul Haque after hitting 29 off 53 balls.

Gayle could not resist trying to drive a ball outside the off stump on the up from Manjural but sent the delivery straight to Sanwar Hossain, going for a duck after facing five balls.

Hinds scored three fours in his 18 before getting a thick edge to Sahariar at second slip off Khaled Mahmud.

Bangladesh openers Ehsanul and Sahariar rode their luck before both were dismissed in quick succession with the score on 19.

Both had been dropped before then but survived until Ehsanul went for 12, bowled by Mervyn Dillon, and Sahariar managed five before he was caught by Gayle off Vasbert Drakes.

Mohammad Ashraful (8) and Hossain (2) were left at the crease when rain intervened and forced an early abandonment.

Bangladesh now face South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday while the West Indies take on Canada at Centurion the following day.