KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Stranded West Indies batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin kept themselves in shape ahead of their trip to England, with half-centuries for the Kingston Cricket Club in the domestic competition here Sunday.
The Guyanese pair have been stalled here since last week awaiting the processing of United Kingdom visas in order to link up with the West Indies touring squad currently in England.
Playing at Sabina Park in the Senior Cup, Deonarine scored 74 and Fudadin got 70, as Kingston racked 264 for six declared in their second innings.
Deonarine then returned with his off-spin to snatch six for 12 and finish the match with a 10-wicket haul as Lucas, set 255 for victory, finished on 73 for eight to earn a thrilling draw.
Fudadin, called up for the final Test in Dominica against Australia last month but yet to gain a West Indies cap, said the knock had been an important one for him.
“I haven’t played a cricket game since the regional four-day semi-finals against Jamaica, just practising in the nets,” Fudadin told the Jamaica Gleaner.
“So it was good to get this two-day game in and cricket ready. I got a good ball in the first innings but I was able to bat a lot of balls in the second innings and feel much better.”
He continued: “My feet were getting to the pitch of the ball. I was picking up the length much better and I was watching the ball much closer.
“Nothing beats playing cricket and as it turned out, it was a very good game. I want to thank the JCA and Kingston Cricket Club for making us play this two-day game.”
Deonarine, who featured in the last two Tests against Australia, also hailed the match practice as valuable and said he was now looking forward to getting to England to join the Windies side.
“I think myself and Fudadin made full use of the opportunity as, after losing first innings, we made a good fight of the game and had it not been for the rain, would have had a good chance of winning outright,” he pointed out.
“We are just now awaiting a response from the UK embassy here over the next day or two, after which we look forward to joining up with the team and taking our spots on the tour.”
Their absence from the 15-man touring party was a blow to the squad which were forced to face Sussex with just 11 available players. Marlon Samuels is yet to arrive from India where he has been playing in the Indian Premier League while fast bowler Fidel Edwards was rested because of injury.
Only 34 overs were possible in the match at Hove after rain ravaged the encounter, including a first day washout on Saturday.
Deonarine and Fudadin are hoping to get to England in time for the second and final warm-up game at Northampton starting Thursday.
