NORTHAMPTON, England, CMC – A magnificent century from batsman Kirk Edwards was not enough, as West Indies slipped to a five-wicket defeat to England Lions in their second match of the Tri-Nations Limited Overs series yesterday.
The right-handed Barbados batsman slammed 147 from 132 balls to catapult Windies A to 279 for six from their 50 overs after they opted to bat first at the County Ground at Wantage Road.
However, England’s A side, comprising eight players who have already played Tests or one-day cricket, easily chased down their target to reach 281 for five with eight balls to spare.
Jonathan Trott, who averages 50 from nine Tests, carved out 118 to lead the run chase while captain Alistair Cook hit 71 at the top of the order.
Fast bowler Gavin Tonge grabbed three for 55 to be the leading bowler for West Indies A.
Searching for their second win in as many days after beating India handily on Monday, West Indies A lost a wicket to the first ball of the day when captain Devon Smith was caught behind off right-arm fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad (2-25).
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES A innings
*D Smith c wkpr Davies b Shahzad 0
+A Fletcher b Woakes 10
O Phillips c wkpr Davies b Bopara 15
K Edwards b Woakes 147
A Fudadin c Mahmood b Bopara 51
K Stoute c Woakes b Shahzad 12
A Russell not out 22
I Khan not out 1
Extras (b1, lb5, w13, nb2) 21
TOTAL (6 wkts; 50 overs) 279
Did not bat: A Martin, G Tonge, L Baker.
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Smith, 0.1 overs), 2-16 (Fletcher, 7.1), 3-46 (Phillips, 15.5), 4-183 (Fudadin, 40.1), 5-237 (Stoute, 46.1), 6-257 (Edwards, 48.3)
Bowling: Shahzad 10-2-25-2, Woakes 10-3-48-2, Mahmood 10-0-79-0, Bopara 8-0-42-2, Tredwell 9-0-54-0, Stevens 3-0-25-0.
ENGLAND LIONS innings
+S Davies c Smith b Tonge 11
*A Cook c Baker b Khan 71
I Trott c wkpr Fletcher b Russell 118
I Bell c wkpr Fletcher b Tonge 44
R Bopara bTonge 16
A Gale not out 3
D Stevens not out 6
Extras (b2, lb3, w5, nb2) 12
TOTAL (5 wkts; 48.4 overs) 281
Did not bat: J Tredwell, C Woakes, A Shahzad, S Mahmood
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Davies, 4.2 overs), 2-137 (Cook, 26.4), 3-219 (Bell, 41.4), 4-253 (Bopara, 46), 5-274 (Trott, 48.1)
Bowling: Tonge 9.5-0-55-3, Russell 7.4-1-60-1, Baker 8.1-1-45-0, Martin 10-0-44-0, Khan 9-0-46-1, Smith 4-0-26-0.
Result: England Lions won by five wickets.
Points: England Lions 4, West Indies A 0.
Toss: West Indies A.
Umpires: Rob Bailey, Peter Willey.
