A century from Shamarh Brooks and five wicket hauls from spinners, Veerasammy Permaul and Rahkeem Cornwall, highlighted West Indies’ first Intra-Squad four-day match yesterday.
The ‘Best v Best’ contest at Sabina Park, Jamaica saw Team 2 winning the toss and opting to bat first and were duly bowled out for 173 in 71 overs after five hours and 10 minutes.
Team 1 responded with 261 all out in 87.5 overs while Team 2, bounced back in their second innings to score 333 for nine in 99.2 overs.
The match ended in a draw after Team 1 closed on 140 for four after 36.2 overs.
Brooks’ innings spanned five hours and 30 minutes and he soaked up 236 balls on his way to 134 highlighted by 20 fours and two sixes. The 32-year-old right hander piloted the second innings with three gritty partnerships.
Alongside his countryman, Roston Chase, the duo shared a 129-run partnership with Chase stroking 12 boundaries on his way to 63 from 103 balls before Cornwall ended his 147-minute vigil.
Brooks also added 83 with Kaveem Hodge who was trapped leg before wicket to Permaul for 24 and 53 with Kieran Powell who was run out for 24.
Spin proved to be the undoing of the batting line up with Cornwall taking 5-67 and Permaul, 2-69.
Among the runs in Team 2’s first innings was Test captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, who spent five hours at the crease and faced 219 balls for his 77-run innings that featured six boundaries.
Brathwaite also shared in a 63-run partnership with Chase who made 41 from 78 balls.
However, Permaul orchestrated the rout with figures of 5-38 from 17 overs. He ripped through the lower order as Team 2 lost five wickets for just 37 runs.
He was supported by N. Gordon who took 5-20 and Nial Smith who returned 2-32.
In Team 1’s first innings, Jermaine Blackwood toiled his way to 62 from 143 balls in 219 minutes. He shared in 64 and 49-run partnerships with Kerron Cottoy (16) and Cornwall (39).
Kemar Roach, Chase, Raymon Reifer and Chemar Holder all bagged two wickets.
In the final innings, Nkrumah Bonner was left unbeaten on 53 from 114 balls having shared half century partnerships with Kyle Mayers and Blackwood who each made 25 runs.
West Indies players used the match as part of their preparation for the upcoming Betway Test Series against Pakistan. The two matches at Sabina Park on August 12-16 and August 20-24 and will form part of the new International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship.
