Regional & International Sporting Events

NARINE, POLLARD RETURN FOR 1st and 2nd T20Is AGAINST INDIA

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies chances against India in the MyTeam11 T20I Series, co-sponsored by Skoda, were given a boost with the recall of the veteran duo of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble is the newcomer in the 14-member squad selected for the first two T20Is in the series which will be contested on August 3 and 4 at the Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida. The Selection Panel have the opportunity to make changes to the squad before the third T20I on August 6 at the Guyana National Stadium.

The squad also includes Andre Russell, subject to him passing a fitness assessment prior to the series. He is set to return to the playing field following his early exit from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 to undergo an operation on his troublesome left knee.

Left-handed opener John Campbell and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre have also been included alongside a number of regulars led by captain Carlos Brathwaite, as the interim CWI Selection Panel seeks to explore options with the ICC T20 World Cup looming next year in Australia.

West Indies T20I Squad v India_Social_1200x1200 (009).jpg

“This squad is an excellent balance of experience and youth,” said interim chairman of the CWI Selection Panel, Robert Haynes.

“It’s not just about the present – the India Tour of the West Indies – but we are also looking at the T20 World Cup coming up next year and it is important that we find the right combination of players and the right formula for defending our title. We have to make sure that we put certain things in place now, so that when it comes to picking the squad for the T20 World Cup, it becomes easier, so we are giving more players the opportunity to play and get the exposure.”

Robert Haynes talks selection of the 1st & 2nd T20 squad for India TourMystery spinner Narine last played in a T20I for West Indies against England almost two years ago at Chester-le-Street and batting all-rounder Pollard appeared last November on the Tour of India.

“We felt that players like Narine and Pollard, who have played well in T20 leagues around the World, once they are fit and mentally ready to play, we must give them the opportunity to represent the West Indies again,” said Haynes.

The 28-year-old Bramble has given firm proof of his batting and keeping ability in the West Indies Championship for reigning five-time champions Guyana Jaguars, who also reached the Final of last year’s West Indies Super50 Cup.

He captained West Indies “B” to the Final of the Global T20 Tournament last year in Canada and was recently picked up in the CPL draft for the first time in three years and will play for his home-based Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“We have been following his performances in regional competitions over the years and it cannot be forgotten that he led the West Indies ‘B’ Team to the GT20 in Canada, and that team did well to reach the Final,” said Haynes.

“We figured that though Nicholas Pooran will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, we needed to have someone to deputise in case something unexpected happens and he is the perfect choice. He is 27 and has a lot of ambition, and we saw his character come out the way he batted whenever Guyana Jaguars were in problems in the West Indies Championship and Super50 Cup, so we know he is capable of getting the job done.”

As one of the most feared and fierce hitters in the shortest version of the game, Russell will add further depth to the batting, and Haynes expects him and the other senior members of the squad to play a big role in the series.

“We expect that this will be a keenly contested series against India,” said Haynes. “Most of the players that we have selected have played in the IPL and they know all of the Indian players well. We will have the edge for sure because we are playing at home. At the end of the day however, it is important that the players go out there and play to win, not just to compete, and I think we have the right balance to do so.”

Haynes said veteran opener Chris Gayle had notified him that he was unavailable for the series, due to playing commitments at the GT20 in Canada, so this has given the opportunity for left-handed compatriot John Campbell to fill the slot.

See what interim head coach, Floyd Reifer, has to say about the team’s composition and the return of Narine and Pollard.

SCHEDULE

India Tour to the Caribbean 2019 schedule.jpg

Source: CWI Media
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RUTHERFORD, AMBRIS SHINE BUT WEST INDIES “A” DEFEATED IN 5TH ODI V INDIA A

COOLIDGE, Antigua – Sparkling half-centuries from Sherfane Rutherford and Sunil Ambris failed to inspire West Indies “A” and they crumbled to an eight-wicket defeat against India “A” in their One-day series here.

West Indies A - ODI 5.jpgRutherford smashed four fours and four sixes in the top score of 65 from 70 balls and Ambris made 61 from 52 balls, as West Indies “A” were bowled out for 236 in 47.4 overs, after they chose to bat in fifth and final match of the series at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

But the home team’s bowlers failed to make inroads into the Indians’ batting and the visitors’ top order, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose 99 from 89 balls included 11 fours and three sixes, fellow opener Shubman Gill with 69 from 40 balls and an unbeaten 61 from 64 balls for Shreyas Iyer easily chased down the target with 17 overs remaining.

The result meant that Roston Chase’s side lost the five-match series 1-4, after they lost the first two matches by 65 runs respectively at this venue and the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, where they also lost the third match by 148 runs before winning last Friday’s fourth match by five runs at this ground.

West Indies “A” had a solid opening stand of 77 between Ambris and left-hander Kjorn Ottley, but once they were separated, the innings spun out of control and they were wobbling at 163 for eight before Rutherford and Khary Pierre put on 52 for the ninth wicket.

Sherfane Rutherford.jpgKhary Pierre.jpgThings were no less easy for West Indies “A” when they took the field, as Gaikwad shared 110 with Gill for the first wicket and followed up with a stand of 112 for the second wicket with Iyer before Keemo Paul claimed his scalp with a hundred on the cards.

The two teams now prepare for a three-match “Test” series with the first match starting on Wednesday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

The last two matches will be contested in Trinidad from July 31 to August 3 at Queen’s Park Oval and August 6 to 9 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES A

S. Ambris run out 61

K. Ottley c Gill b Navdeep Saini 21

+D. Thomas lbw b K Pandya 1

R. Chase wkp Kishan b Navdeep Saini 1

J. Carter b Axar Patel 9

R. Powell c & b R Chahar 4

S. Rutherford c R Chahar b D Chahar 65

R. Cornwall c Pandey b R Chahar 10

K. Paul c K Pandya b Khaleel Ahmed 13

K. Pierre not out 35

A. Jordan b D Chahar 6

Extras (lb1, w7, nb2) 10

TOTAL (all out, 47.4 overs) 236

Fall of wickets: 1-77, 2-86, 3-87, 4-89, 5-101, 6-103, 7-124, 8-163, 9-1225, 10-236

Bowling: D Chahar 6.4-0-39-2, Khaleel Ahmed 6-1-41-1, Pandya 8-0-32-1, Navdeep Saini 8-1-31-2, R Chahar 9-0-53-2, Axar Patel 10-0-39-1.

INDIA A

R. Gaikwad c Pierre b Paul 99

S. Gill c Jordan b Cornwall 69

S. Iyer not out 61

*M. Pandey not out 7

Extras (nb1) 1

TOTAL (2 wkts, 33 overs) 237

Did not bat: K Pandya, +I Kishan, Khaleel Ahmed, Navdeep Saini, R Chahar, Axar Patel, D Chahar.

Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-222.

Bowling: Jordan 6-0-43-0, Pierre 8-0-55-0, Paul 5-0-37-1, Cornwall 7-0-47-1, Chase 3-0-24-0, Carter 4-0-31-0

Result: India A won by eight wickets.

Series: India win five-match series 4-1.

Toss: West Indies A.

Umpires: J Blade, G Brathwaite.

Source: CWI Media

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WEST INDIES “A” HOLD NERVE TO CLINCH TENSE WIN

COOLIDGE, Antigua – Strong batting – led by their captain Roston Chase – set the stage for West Indies “A” to claim a five-run victory over India “A” in their One-day series on Friday.

Chase hit four fours and two sixes in the top score of 84 from 100 to earn the Player-of-the-Match award and was the rock upon which West Indies “A” built a competitive total of 298 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs in the fourth match of the series at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here.

Man of the Match - R. Chase.jpgHometown star Devon Thomas supported with 70 from 95 balls, left-hander Jonathan Carter made 50 from 43 balls and opener Sunil Ambris hit 34 in the home team’s best batting performance of the series.

Ambris strikes.jpgThe West Indies “A” bowlers worked their way through the visitors’ batting, leaving the Indians 160 for six in the 32nd over before Axar Patel anchored two successive half-century stands to inch them close before they ended on 293 for nine from their 50 overs.

The result gave the hosts their first victory of the series which they now trail 1-3 with the final contest taking place on Sunday at the same venue.

Three successive half-century stands were at the heart of the turnaround in the West Indies “A” batting performance.

Ambris shared 73 with Thomas for the second wicket before he departed in the 15th over, when Chase came to the crease to put on 81 for the third wicket with Thomas.

After Thomas fell in the 33rd over, Chase and left-handed compatriot Carter advanced the scoring with a stand of 97 for the fourth wicket.

Chase makes runs.jpgWhen Chase became the second of four wickets for Syed Khaleel Ahmed in the 45th over, there was little resistance from the rest of the batting, as the home team lost six wickets for 39 in the space of 29 balls.

A sharp bit of fielding gave West Indies “A” an early breakthrough when India “A” started their chase and they continued to take wickets at regular intervals to leave the visitors on the backfoot.

But Patel smashed eight fours and one six in 81 not out from 63 balls, sharing stands of 60 for the seventh wicket with Washington Sundar and 69 for the eighth wicket with Ahmed to to give the Indians hope of a successful run chase.

But Chase’s side held their nerve to clinch the victory.

West Indies A vs India A 4th ODI – Highlights

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES A

*S Ambris c Navdeep Saini b Pandya 46

K Ottley c wkp Kishan b Khaleel Ahmed 1

+D Thomas c Avesh Khan b Sundar 70

R Chase c Pandey b Khaleel Ahmed 84

J Carter c Pandey b Khaleel Ahmed 50

R Powell c Pandya b Avesh Khan 1

S Rutherford c Axar Patel b Khaleel Ahmed 2

K Paul c Pandey b Avesh Khan 11

R Reifer c wkp Kishan b Avesh Khan 0

R Shepherd not out 21

K Pierre not out 1

Extras (lb4, w5, nb2) 11

TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 298

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-76, 3-157, 4-254, 5-263, 6-263, 7-265, 8-274, 9-289.

Bowling: Khaleel Ahmed 10-0-67-4, Navdeep Saini 7-0-42-0, Avesh Khan 8-1-62-3, Krunal Pandya 9-0-33-1, Axar Patel 9-1-36-0, Sundar 7-0-54-1.

WEST INDIES A

R Gaikwad c wkp Thomas b Paul 20

Anmolpreet Singh run out 11

H Vihari c Rutherford b Chase 20

K Pandya c Carter b Pierre 45

*M Pandey c & b Powell 24

+Ishan Kishan c Reifer b Paul 14

W Sundar c Shepherd b Powell 45

Axar Patel not out 81

Khaleel Ahmed c Rutherford b Reifer 15

Navdeep Saini run out 0

Avesh Khan not out 1

Extras (b2, lb2, w11, nb2) 17

TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 293

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-36, 3-82, 4-123, 5-127, 6-160, 7-220, 8-289, 9-291.

Bowling: Shepherd 4-0-34-0, Paul 10-1-61-2, Pierre 10-0-41-1, Chase 10-0-42-1, Reifer 9-1-64-1, Powell 7-0-47-2.

Result: West Indies A won by five runs.

Series: India A lead five-match series 3-1.

Toss: India A.

Umpires: G Brathwaite, N Duguid.

Source: CWI Media

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THIRD STRAIGHT DEFEAT FOR WEST INDIES “A”

NORTH SOUND, Antigua – West Indies “A” failed to build on a tidy, half-century opening stand between John Campbell and Sunil Ambris, and slumped to another defeat against India “A” by 148 runs in their One-day series.

Ambris scored 30 and Campbell made 21, putting on 51, but the rest of the batting failed to fire, except all-rounder Keemo Paul, whose 34 was the top score, as West Indies “A”, chasing 296 for victory, were bowled out for 147 in 34.2 overs in the third match of the series at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here.

WI A v IND A - Keemo Paul.jpgNone of the other home team batsmen reached 20, as Krunal Pandya scythed through the batting with a spell of 5-25 from seven overs.

The result meant that Roston Chase’s side now trail the five-match series 0-3, with the next match set for Thursday at the Coolidge Cricket Ground a few kilometres away.

Dropped catch - WI A v IND A.jpgEarlier, off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall and Romario Shepherd grabbed two wickets apiece, but they and the rest of the West Indies “A” attack failed to make inroads into the India “A” batting, as the visitors’ captain Manish Pandey hit a sparkling, even 100 and opener Shubman Gill supported with 77.

Rahkeem Cornwall - WI A v IND A.jpgShepherd grabbed the early scalp of Anmolpreet Singh for a four-ball duck, but Shreyas Iyer came to the crease and put on 109 for the second wicket with Gill.

Cornwall removed Gill and Iyer for 47 respectively, in the space of 11 deliveries to leave India “A” 137 for three, but Pandya shared 110 with Hanuma Vihari for the fourth wicket to consolidate their side’s advantage before the last six overs yielded 48.

The Indians won both the first and second One-day matches at the CCG and here respectively, by 65-run margins.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA “A”(maximum 50 overs)

S. Gill c wkpr Thomas b Cornwall 77

A. Singh c Campbell b Shepherd 0

S. Iyer c Powell b Cornwall 47

*M. Pandey lbw b Shepherd 100

H. Vihari c Ambris b Reifer 29

+I. Kishan b Paul 24

K. Pandya not out 2

W. Sundar not out 3

Extras (w12, nb1) 13

TOTAL (6 wkts, 50 overs) 295

D. Chahar, A. Khan, N. Saini did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-122, 3-137, 4-247, 5-286, 6-292

Bowling: Shepherd 10-1-51-2 (w3); Jordan 5-0-37-0; Paul 10-0-53-1 (nb1, w2); Reifer 9-0-62-1 (w2); Cornwall 10-0-37-2 (w2); Chase 3-0-32-0 (w3); Powell 3-0-23-0

WEST INDIES “A” (target: 296 off 50 overs)

J. Campbell c Iyer b Saini 21

S. Ambris lbw b Khan 30

R. Reifer c Gill b Pandya 19

*R. Chase b Pandya 15

J. Carter c Sundar b Pandya 4

+D. Thomas c Vihari b Sundar 1

R. Powell c Iyer b Pandya 1

R. Cornwall c wkpr Kishan b Vihari 5

R. Shepherd c Vihari b Pandya 4

K. Paul c Saini b Vihari 34

A. Jordan not out 0

Extras (b4, lb6, w3) 13

TOTAL (all out, 34.2 overs) 147

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-65, 3-89, 4-102, 5-103, 6-103, 7-109, 8-109, 9-117

Bowling: Chahar 5-0-15-0; Saini 5-0-33-1 (w1); Sundar 10-0-27-1; Khan 5-0-14-1 (w2); Pandya 7-0-25-0; 2.2-0-23-2

Result: India “A” won by 148 runs

Series: India “A” lead five-match series 3-0

Toss: India “A”

Player-of-the-Match: Manish Pandey (India “A”)

Umpires: N. Duguid, P. Gustard

Match referee: V. Burnes

Reserve umpire: G. Brathwaite

Source: CWI Media

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SHEPHERD, REIFER UPSTAGED, AS INDIA “A” WIN AGAIN

NORTH SOUND, Antigua – Guyana Jaguars teammates Romario Shepherd and Raymon Reifer were upstaged by the pair Ruturaj Gaikwad and Navdeep Saini, as West Indies “A” suffered a 65-run defeat against India “A” in their One-day series on Sunday.

Shepherd grabbed 4-36 from his allotted 10 overs with the ball, but Gaikwad hit five fours and two sixes in the top score of 85 off 102 balls and fellow opener Shubman Gill supported with 62 from 83 balls to anchor the Indians to 255 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs in the second match of the series of five, played at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

In reply, left-hander Reifer led the way for West Indies “A” with seven fours and three sixes in 71 from 105 balls, Shepherd completed a tidy all-round performance with 34 and Sunil Ambris made 24.

But the home team’s batting was undermined by Navdeep Saini with 5-46 from 8.5 overs and they were dismissed for 190 in 43.5 overs.

The result meant that Roston Chase’s side trail 0-2 in the five-match series which continues on Tuesday at the same venue.

The skipper nonetheless recognizes areas for the team to get better in for the matches ahead.

Choosing to field, West Indies “A” were put on the backfoot, when Gaikwad and Gill laid a firm foundation with an opening stand of 151 before Shepherd engineered the unravelling of their innings with his fast-medium bowling.

Shepherd made the breakthrough in the 31st over, when he trapped Gill lbw and followed up with the scalp of Shreyas Iyer, the visitors’ first-match hero, two overs later. In between Khary Pierre removed Gaikwad, as India “A” stumbled to 153 for three.

But West Indies “A” met defiance again, when Manish Pandey and Hanuma Vihari added 53 for the fourth wicket before India “A” lost their next five wickets for 49 in the space of 45 balls.

The hosts suffered an early setback, when left-handed opener John Campbell fell in the second over and wobbled to 108 for seven in the 30th over.

But Shepherd came to the crease and shared 69 for the eighth wicket with Reifer to add some respectability to the West Indies “A” total before the last three wickets fell cheaply for 13 in the space of 20 balls.

 

Source: CWI Media

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CWC19| MATCH REPORT & HIGHLIGHTS – POORAN’S MAIDEN HUNDRED AGAINST SL

DURHAM, England – A counter-attacking, maiden One-day International hundred from Nicholas Pooran failed to top a first ODI hundred for Avishka Fernando, as West Indies stumbled to a 23-run defeat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 England & Wales.

Chasing 339 for victory, the West Indies looked on the brink of a heavy defeat when they slipped to 145 for five in the 29th over of their penultimate match in the tournament at the Riverside Stadium before the left-handed Pooran led a recovery with the lower order, as the Caribbean side finished on 315 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs.

Pooran makes century.jpgPooran smashed 11 fours and four sixes to top all scorers in the contest with 118 off 103 balls before he was dismissed in the 48th over, caught behind off Angelo Mathews, bowling in an ODI for the first time since December 2017, and carried the West Indies’ chances of victory with him back to the pavilion.

Pooran bats against SL.jpgThe 23-year-old Pooran dominated a 54-run, sixth-wicket stand with Carlos Brathwaite before sharing 83 for the seventh-wicket with Fabian Allen to revive the West Indies’ flagging chances in the second half of the game which was watched by Barbados-born singing sensation, Rihanna.

Rihanna at WC.jpgBrathwaite made just eight from 15 balls before he was run out in the 35th over and the same fate befell Allen 10 overs later, after he made a career-best 51 from 32 balls.

Earlier, West Indies struggled to make an impact with the new ball after they chose to field and the Sri Lankan top order – led by Fernando with a run-a-ball 104 – laid the foundation for their side’s highest total in the tournament of 338 for six off 50 overs.

Both Sri Lanka and West Indies are out of contention for semi-final spots.

WI and SL.jpgWest Indies face Afghanistan in their final match of the tournament on Thursday at Headingley in Leeds.

Source: CWI Media

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WI LOSE TO INDIA | CWC19 MATCH REPORT & HIGHLIGHTS

MANCHESTER, England – West Indies failed to capitalise on a disciplined bowling performance led by Kemar Roach and were let down by their batting again when they stumbled to a 125-run defeat to India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 England & Wales.

Chasing 269 for victory, the West Indies were bowled out for 143 in the 35th over of their seventh match in tournament at Old Trafford.

Sunil Ambris, playing his first match of the tournament after flying in two days ago to replace Andre Russell, topscored with 31 and left-handed Nicholas Pooran made 28, but they were the only two of the three top-order batsmen to reach double figures and the only ones overall to pass 20.

The Caribbean side’s batting was undermined by Mohammed Shami, who bowled brilliantly to finish with 4-16 from 6.2 overs, fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets apiece.

The #MenInMaroon now have just one win in seven matches with contests remaining against Sri Lanka on Monday at the Riverside Stadium and Afghanistan on Thursday at Headingley, and with no chance of reaching the semi-finals.

West Indies slumped to 16 for two in the seventh over after Chris Gayle and Shai Hope fell cheaply, but Ambris and Pooran put on a valuable 55 for the third wicket.

The West Indies were just beginning to claw their way back into the match, when they lost both batsmen in the space of 15 balls with just nine runs added.

With this partnership broken, there was little defiance or resistance from the rest of the batting, as the last eight wickets fell for 72 in the space of 99 balls.

Earlier, Roach was outstanding with the ball, grabbing 3-36 from his allotted 10 overs, as India made 268 for seven off their allotted 50 overs, after choosing to bat, with their captain Virat Kohli hitting the top score of 72 to earn the Player-of-the-Match and former skipper M.S. Dhoni getting an unbeaten 56.

West Indies captain Jason Holder and left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell took two wickets each, as India rallied back from 180 for five in the 39th over.

 

Source: CMC/CWI Media

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GAYLE’S ODI CAREER – WILL HE SURPASS LARA?

The West Indies are up against it in their battle to qualify for the semi-finals, but there is a small cause for celebration for Jason Holder’s side – and for one of their number in particular. On Thursday, against India, Christopher Henry Gayle has the chance to become the West Indies’ highest ever ODI run-scorer.

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Brathwaite leads as West Indies get VIP tour of Manchester United

MANCHESTER, England – Members of the West Indies team took a break from their hectic schedule to pay a visit to one of sport’s most iconic venues. Several players, member of the support staff along with family and friends were hosted to a VIP tour of Old Trafford football stadium – the home of Manchester United. West Indies are in Manchester for 11 days as the played ICC Cricket World Cup matches against New Zealand – last Saturday, and India – on Thursday.

C. Brathwaite at Old Trafford.jpgThey made the short journey over from the historic cricket venue to the Theatre of Dreams, and saw close up the majesty of the sporting arena. The tour included a trip into the players dressing room – which has hosted many legends of English and international football. They also heard about the history of the club, the legacy of the great manager Sir Alex Ferguson and received replica playing jerseys.

Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite who is a Man U supporter said:

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Andre Russell has knee surgery in Manchester

MANCHESTER, England – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell successfully underwent surgery to address the injury to his left knee, which earlier this week ruled him out of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The 31-year-old had the procedure at a local facility and will return to Jamaica to continue his rehabilitation.

Russell in recovery 1.jpg

Russell played four of West Indies’ six matches in the World Cup before being replaced by Sunil Ambris, who joined the team on Tuesday. Russell had a major impact in the West Indies win over Pakistan, where he took two wickets for four runs in a hostile three-over spell at Trent Bridge. Overall he ended with just five wickets from 19 overs. He scored 36 runs from three innings.

Russell makes catch off BANG.jpg

 

Source: CMC /CWI Media

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