Simmons, Smith shine but Riders lose

Ex-West Indies batsman
Lendl Simmons
Ex-West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, CMC – West Indies stars Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith produced cameos but their efforts went in vain as Atlanta Riders slipped to a seven-wicket loss to New York Warriors in the US Masters T10 yesterday.

Playing at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Smith top-scored with 36 from 24 balls while Simmons chipped in with an 11-ball 21, knocks which propelled Riders to 97 for four off their 10 overs.

The 38-year-old Simmons put on 29 for the first wicket with captain Robin Uthappa (24) and 28 for the second wicket with Smith who counted four fours.

Ex-Pakistan seamer Sohail Khan claimed three for 21 while former West Indies speedster Jerome Taylor finished with a single wicket.

In reply, Kamran Akmal struck a breezy 11-ball 34 with three fours and three sixes, in a 63-run, opening stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan who belted a 14-ball 28.

Former Bangladesh left-arm spinner Elias Sunny snapped up two for 11 as three wickets tumbled in successive deliveries at the start of the fifth over but former West Indies all-rounder Jonathan Carter struck a four and a six in an unbeaten 17 to get Warriors over the line in a 40-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Shahid Afridi (22 not out).

On Sunday, ex-West Indies player Chris Barnwell struck 28 not out off just 10 balls with four sixes as New Jersey Tritons chased down 85 to beat Warriors in a contest reduced to five overs per side due to rain.