Windies batsmen must focus on big innings

Windies batsmen must focus on big innings
AP Photo/Andres Leighton, file

It is important that West Indies batsmen, either on the “A” team or senior team, focus on scoring huge totals. When batsmen get into the forties they should try their utmost to carry on for huge totals. The West Indies senior team batsmen ought to build their momentum and get huge innings.

ANDRE RUSSELL GETS HATRICK

The one and only Twenty20 between the West Indies “A” team and India was an exciting one with West Indies losing by 93 runs but all rounder Andre Russell picking up an hatrick. India at one stage after batting first were 74 runs without a wicket falling. They reached 189 for 3 before Russell tore into India’s batting, picking up four consecutive wickets to see India plunge from 189 for 3 to 191 for 7. Russell picked up 4 for 45 off 4 overs earlier on. Captain Yuvraj Singh 52 and Kedar Jadhan swashbuckled 80 from 38 balls. Jonathan Carter and Veera Sammy Permaul both dropped easy catches. India ended at 214 for 7 off 20 overs.

WEST INDIES BOWLED OUT FOR 121 RUNS FROM 16.2 OVERS

India’s bowling was on top as West Indies “A” wickets fell constantly. Opening batsman Andre Fletcher top-scored with 32. For India, Rahul Sharma picked up 5 for 23, Yuvraj Singh 2 for 24 and Vinay Kumar 2 for 22. India won by 93 runs.

In spite of India “A” team’s huge total of 214 runs for 7 wickets, Ashley Nurse, the Barbados allrounder bowled tidily with four overs for 18 runs. Nurse’s cricket skills have been improving and it is hoped that the West Indies selectors are paying keen attention. Jonathan Carter, another Barbadian allrounder, has been doing well with the bat.

KIRK EDWARDS TON PUSH WINDIES “A” TO SERIES WIN

Barbados and West Indies “A” team batsman Kirk Edwards slammed a superb century to push the West Indies “A” team to a 2-1 series victory defeating India “A” by 45 runs. Edwards hit 12 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 104. Opening batsmen Captain Kieron Powell and Andre Fletcher started well for their team with a partnership of 74 runs. Powell scored 40 and Fletcher 28. Guyanese batsman Leon Johnson scored 54 runs off 42 balls.

West Indies scored 312 runs for 9 wickets off 50 overs. Kirk Edwards century came off 98 balls.

INDIA’s “A” TEAM REACH 267 FOR 8 OFF 50 OVERS

Some penetrative and accurate bowling by West Indies bowlers Veera Sammy Permaul and Miguel Cummings slowed down the aggression from the India “A” batsmen. Permaul picked up 3 wickets for 55 runs and Pacer Miguel Cummings 2 wickets for 6 runs. India “A” ended at 267 for 8 off 50 overs.

Note: 1. India “A” team won the first game by 77 runs [Yuvraj Singh scored 137].

2. West Indies “A” team won the second game by 55 runs. [Jonathan Carter scored 132 runs.]

3. West Indies “A” team won by 45 runs. [Kirk Edwards scored 104 runs].