Morton fires in warm-up as Simmons sizzles

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s newest acquisition Runako Morton warmed up for next month’s Caribbean Twenty20 Championship with a cavalier 45 in a trial game played yesterday.

The right-hander, who has switched his allegiance to the twin-island republic from the Leeward Islands, cracked three fours and a six off 48 balls for a T&T “B” team against an “A” side at the National Cricket Centre.

Morton was selected on Thursday in a 14-man T&T squad which will contest the January 10-23 CT20 in Antigua and Barbados.

His knock helped the B side to 150 for five off their 20 overs, with West Indies A batsman Justin Guillen smashing 45 from 36 balls with five fours and a six.
Off-spinner Sherwin Ganga finished with two for 28.

Earlier, discarded West Indies all-rounder Lendl Simmons smashed a stroke-filled 82 to fire the T&T A side to 183 for six off their allotted overs.

The right-hander faced a mere 46 balls and struck 12 fours and three sixes, and posted 98 for the first wicket with Windies opener Adrian Barath who hit 21 from 34 balls.

Rookie all-rounder Kevin Cooper scored a cameo late innings 15-ball 31 with three fours and two sixes.

T&T have been drawn in Group B of the CT20 alongside Barbados, Leewards, Canada and English County side Hampshire.