RAJKOT, India, CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten cameo kept new boys Gujarat Lions unbeaten as they defeated Rising Pune Supergiants by seven wickets with two overs to spare, in their Indian Premier League contest here Thursday.

Opting for first knock, Supergiants rattled up 163 for five off their 20 overs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, with South African opener Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 69 and Englishman Kevin Pietersen getting 37.

Captain MS Dhoni chipped in with 22 with opener Ajinkya Rahane getting 21.

Left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja was the best bowler with two for 18 while Bravo was expensive, conceding 43 runs from his four overs and taking just one wicket.

In reply, Australian Aaron Finch blasted 50 from 36 deliveries and Kiwi partner Brendon McCullum, 49 from 31 balls, as they put on 85 off 51 balls for the first wicket.

McCullum added a further 35 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina who struck a run-a-ball 24, before departing in the 14th over.

Bravo then compensated with the bat to make sure there were no stumbles, stroking a fluent unbeaten 22 off 10 balls with three fours and a six, to sustain Lions’ momentum.

It was his inside out extra cover drive for six off seamer Rajat Bhatia that brought the scores level, before a wide off the first ball of the penultimate over saw Lions home.

They top the standings with four points from their two games.

DELHI, India, CMC – Twenty20 World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite had little hand in Delhi Daredevils’ first win of the Indian Premier League, as they comfortably beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets here Friday.

Following defeat in their opening game last Sunday in Kolkata, Delhi rebounded to limit Kings XI to 111 for nine off their 20 overs and then raced to their target with 39 balls to spare, at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Winning the toss and opting to field, Delhi were fired by leg-spinner Amit Mishra who wrecked the Kings XI innings with a spell of four for 11.

Brathwaite went wicket-less from four overs which cost 33 runs.

Opener Manan Vohra was the only batsman to pass 20 with 32 off 24 balls with five fours.

In reply, the hosts lost Shreyas Iyer for three with the score on nine in the third over but South African Quinton de Kock stroked an unbeaten 59 off 42 balls to see his side to victory.

He counted nine fours and a six and posted 91 for the second wicket with Sanju Sampson who hit 33 from 32 deliveries.

Brathwaite and Delhi next face Chris Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday in Bangalore.

Cricinfo article.

He wanted to be able to do what his team wanted him to do. At the World T20 final, that meant backing himself to hit the sixes he had practised all tournament.

All young cricketers dream of that perfect scenario that only they, the hero of their story, can get their side out of. It will lead to fame, money, glory and legendary status. It is that last-ball six against the world's best bowler from what should have been an unplayable yorker.

It is that final wicket to win just when it looked like the other team's tenth-wicket stand was going to win it for them. Or a catch, running towards the boundary, flying through the air, twisting your body in several different ways but pulling it off and winning the World Cup.

Carlos Brathwaite didn't have dreams like that. "I wanted to play a part." He was not supposed to be the star.

When Brathwaite dreamed of his ultimate cricket life, it involved playing Test cricket for West Indies, but not just playing, being a part of the team that brought West Indies back to the top. "Even if we aren't No. 1 by the time I finish my career, that we had made strides, that we are on the up and up. Eventually bring glory back to West Indies cricket."

Not that he didn't also think of the World Cup. "The dream was to win the World Cup and be influential. So it wasn't a case of just wanting to be on the squad that won the World Cup. I just wanted to be influential, play some part, and then in years to come tell my kids and grandkids, 'This medal, I had some sort of influence in it.'"

His story is now so unbelievable that when he sits his grandkids down and tells them about it, they will scarcely believe that their humble grandfather was the man who won a World T20 in four balls. He didn't play a part, he played the part.

****

The West Indies Board President's XI is not a name that slips off the tongue. And when they played Australia in a three-day match in May last year, few people were there, few people wrote about it, few people remembered it. A team of virtually unknown young West Indians put on 382 in the first innings. Five guys scored half-centuries. The match was drawn.

"I think most teams can't hit the amount of boundaries we can hit at the end, so they have to do more rotation of strike. We pride ourselves on hitting those big shots"

Playing his part, Brathwaite scored the fifth half-century. The first four were dour. All were scored at rates slower than 60, most well under 50. Brathwaite's took 42 balls. There were three fours and five sixes. The bowling attack included Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle, Mitch Marsh and Nathan Lyon.

Brathwaite had played for West Indies before, but he had never had a day like this, a day where he believed.

Six months later he was playing his first Test, again it was against the Australians. His bowling had not gone well. He had a career first-class bowling average of 22, but the Australian batsmen took no notice of that as they smashed their way to 551 for 3 declared. Brathwaite's 30 overs cost 109 runs and no wickets.

His team was six down and 468 behind when Brathwaite walked in to bat at the MCG. With Darren Bravo, he put on 90 runs. His first Test innings was a fighting 59 off 126 balls.

He still might have been the second-most famous Brathwaite in West Indies cricket, but Carlos now believed he belonged at this level.

****

Brathwaite has played for three CPL franchises. Considering the short history of the tournament, that makes him a fast-moving journeyman. But the CPL is giving West Indies cricketers, especially the younger ones, and the late blooming ones, something they have never had before.

A professional cricket environment to learn in. Brathwaite has played club cricket in places like Dublin. But his chance to play like a professional, with other professionals, was the CPL.

"I would say the CPL, the impact it has had, is similar to the impact the IPL had when it first started. Young Indian players were able to rub shoulders with seasoned internationals, and you know, it kind of gives you a sense of their professionalism, their routines, the way they go about games and the way they prepare.

Instead of just watching them from afar and just seeing the end product on TV, you actually get to be a part of it, and be close to these players day by day. It has helped me a lot."

Not only is it a professional environment to learn in, it brings in outside cricketers to learn from. "I associated with Shoaib Malik, David Hussey, Martin Guptill and Shakib Al Hasan. So you got to experience different culture, different preparation, different techniques, and it has been a pleasure."

For generations, even before they were a Test side, West Indies' best players have been all but amateurs in pay at home, and took their money from travelling abroad. That means that some of the most talented simply walked away. With the CPL those players are now professionals home and away, and the West Indies team and players like Brathwaite are seeing the benefits already.

****

There had never ever been a team of players with more ability to hit sixes than West Indies in the 2016 World T20. But big-hitting teams aren't always successful. Especially on the slow, low-scoring pitches of India. You need to be smart. Not only were the West Indies team the biggest hitters, they had the smartest tactics of the tournament.

Part of that came from knowledge. "The amount of experience that we had in our team of T20 cricket all around the world, and especially in India, was a huge part," Brathwaite said.

But there was also belief that went with that knowledge and talent. "We have the know-how and we have the confidence that no matter what the run rate gets up to, we have the depth in our batting line-up, not only in quality batsmen but in six-hitters. That we can conquer anything.

"I saw some stats online about the boundary percentages. I guess it's more a confidence that our guys in the middle don't panic when most teams panic. I think most teams can't hit the amount of boundaries we can hit at the end, so they have to do more rotation of strike. We pride ourselves on hitting those big shots, and continue to."

"I associated with Shoaib Malik, David Hussey, Martin Guptill and Shakib Al Hasan [in the CPL]. So you got to experience different culture, different preparation, different techniques"

This as a team that knew India, that knew T20, that knew how to chase, that knew how to hit boundaries, and mostly just believed they could do all those things.

****

West Indies weren't sure who should go in to bat after Darren Sammy in the final - Brathwaite or Denesh Ramdin. While their first-class averages are similar, Ramdin has scored four Test centuries, has been a constant for West Indies during some of their worst days, and has also captained them.

On the other side of things, Brathwaite has one first-class century, is still very new to the team, and is less known. But Brathwaite made the decision for them by stepping forward and telling them he should go in.

When he got to the non-striker's end he looked up at the big screen. On the board were his career T20I stats: 25 career runs, strike rate of 113, highest score in T20I (13), and to himself he said, "Oh Carlos, you need more than 13 today if you are going to win."

Straightaway he looked for boundaries. "I assessed the field, I tried to get an idea of what the bowler wants to bowl. In the back of my mind I had an idea of what Chris [Jordan] wanted to do. Bowl full on a wide line; as we know he's an excellent exponent of the wide yorker. My intention at the point in time was that if he did bowl it, I was looking to get through or over mid-off or extra cover."

Brathwaite hit a couple of decently timed balls, but extra cover stopped one, mid-off the other. All the time it was clear that Marlon Samuels was tiring. Who knew how many big hits he had left in him?

Against David Willey, Brathwaite tried to hit out. "I swung at one and got an inside edge, and I was thinking it makes no sense going to the big side of the ground. I knew I had to attack either straight or I would play a dink. And you know what, I just made up my mind to back my dink. I'd been trying it for the whole World Cup in practice, and there was no better stage to actually try it."

The dink, the scoop, the lap sweep, was perfect. This big man got down low, inside the line of the ball, and found a boundary where England had never seen one coming.

But one more over of Jordan's yorkers and England were seemingly in charge with an over to go.

****

Samuels came to Brathwaite to talk about Ben Stokes before the last over started. Anyone who had followed Stokes' death bowling knew that unlike the razor precision of Jordan, Stokes' skill came as much from surprise. He liked going short.

He didn't stay full and wide, he went wherever he decided to, in part to keep the batsmen guessing, in part because that is how Stokes plays. It doesn't always work, but when it does, even his full tosses can be hard to hit. Samuels fed this information to Brathwaite. He told him to hold back as Stokes would bowl hittable balls.

Brathwaite also knew what Stokes would do. "Looking at the field and looking at their plans from before, England are usually a good yorker death-bowling side. But I knew it would be that plan or they would go into the wicket and force me to hit towards square leg, midwicket cow corner, which was the bigger side of the ground.

I guessed they didn't want to bowl a wide yorker since the short side of the ground was on the off side. Having those plans in the back of my mind, I tuned back to watching the ball. "

Then there was the actual total up on that scoreboard. "I looked at the board once and I saw 19 runs, but I didn't really acknowledge it. And after that I just focused on the ball." And presumably, sending that ball a long way away.

That six-hitting ability is exactly the kind of player Brathwaite is - part of cricket's new evolution towards massive batsmen, with clear front legs, almost baseball-style power positions, and fast hands. There was probably no point in his life when Brathwaite couldn't hit a six, but now he trains himself to do it when he needs it. "I do a lot of range hitting. When you are in the nets and you hit a ball, it stops in the net.

It really is a lottery as to where the ball would have ended up, but when you do range hitting, you see the ball actually sail a good height and distance over the boundary. That really helps. I've come to a place where I can clear the boundaries. The majority of boundaries in the world, if not all."

Ben Stokes' four balls became a part of Carlos Brathwaite's range hitting.

****

"To me, a star is a guy who is more consistent. My thing is consistency. I will take consistency any day over just having that one match-winning performance. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that is the way the World Cup is for me. It's funny, because in a team game you can see yourself as something, but once you're a team man, you'll be asked to do different roles at different points of time.

I see myself as a team man, first and foremost. If it requires it, I will bowl a very long spell, very defensively, with little chance of getting a wicket. I don't mind impacting my average negatively. That being said, if we need three wickets to win a game, I want them to throw the ball to me with the hope I'll get those wickets. I want to do whatever the team needs at that time."

This time the team needed 19 runs. Carlos went six, six, six, pause, and six. He played his part. He was not supposed to become the star, but by being the team guy, playing his part, the part, that is what he became.

"I never imagined I would hit four sixes back to back and win the World Cup for West Indies." Carlos Brathwaite was a bigger hero in real life than he had ever been in his dreams.

First Published On Cricinfo.

Barbados Today article.

The Barbados TODAY’S Touch Programme this morning, with former West Indies and Barbados cricketer Corey Collymore, headed to Boscobel Primary, where the player presented cricket gear to the school.

Collymore, a former Boscobel Primary student, said he was honoured to be able to give back something to his alma mater.

“I think it’s always good to give back to where you started; and this is not only where I started my education, but my cricketing career as well. I am presenting these four bats that I hope should help the boys to progress in cricket.

“And one day you will get to where I am,” Collymore told the cricketing students.

Collymore, a coach for the West Indies Under-19 cricketers, said he was moved to present the bats following the West Indies men’s and women’s victories in the World Cup.

“West Indies winging all three championships this year was a major achievement for all of us. And my reason for being here today is a spin-off from that championship. It’s something I have wanted to do for the last few years. I know from experience that the guys probably have one professional bat; so I just rally wanted to help out,” he added.

Collymore also brought along a special surprise for the students –– West Indies Under-19 champion Shamar Springer to present two of the bats to the students. The students, especially the young cricketers, were elated to see Springer, who is famous for his chest roll.

Springer said he felt good he was able to come and be a part of the presentation.

First Published In The Barbados Today.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Former Barbados Youth team players Jameel Stuart and Chad Williams, both of whom are Lord Gavron awardees, will be travelling to England on Monday, April 18, for a five-month attachment with two clubs in Manchester.

All-rounder Stuart will be placed at Sefton Cricket Club, while left-arm spinner Williams will be at Wavetree Cricket Club.

They will be accompanied by Barbados Cricket Association Board member Winston Stafford, who is the chairman of the Scholarships & Placement committee.

Following are profiles of Stuart and Williams:

Full name: Jameel Stuart 

Birthdate: February 11th, 1995 

Current age: 20 

Major teams: St Giles Primary, NSC Under-13, Passage United Under-13, Dover Juniors, Barbados Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Barbados Youth, Wanderers Under-19, Pickwick CC, Spartan CC, BDFSP, The St Michael Secondary School 

Playing role: All-rounder. 

Batting style: Left-hand. 

Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin. 

Education: St Giles Primary, The St. Michael Secondary School.

Jameel Stuart started playing cricket at the tender age of five for the St Giles Primary School after falling in love with the sport after watching it multiple times on television. He was youngest player to play for the School in their history. His highlight for the school came in 2005 when he led the School to the Herman Griffith title as captain by gaining the most runs and wickets in the Competition. 

These performances led to him being selected for the National Sports Council Under-13 team. In his final year for the team he won the Most Valuable Player award in the St Kitts and Nevis 13 and Under invitational tournament. He amassed the most runs in the tournament (300), the most wickets (20) and also the most catches (10). It was clear he played an integral role in regaining the title for the NSC Under-13 team. 

He moved on to the St Michael School where he was coached by former West Indies fast bowler and now West Indies Women Assistant Coach, Ezra Moseley, who played a major role in the his development.

During his time at the famous school, Stuart, affectionately called "Salty", amassed eight centuries. He captained the Barbados Under-15 team where he was the top scorer in the team and the second highest overall in the tournament with 280 runs at an average of 52. He went on to captain the Barbados Under-17 and Under-19 teams. Stuart also captained the Guardian General Barbados Youth team in the domestic Elite division competition. 

Stuart moved on to represent one of the most famous clubs in Barbados, Spartan, for one season where he scored 383 runs at an average of 31. He then joined the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme where he was immediately named captain of the team. In the 2015 domestic season, he scored 525 runs including three centuries in the Elite division Championship and was the highest run scorer in the Sagicor General Super Cup Championship with 445 runs at an average of 49.44.

==========================

Full Name: Chad Jay Williams 

Birthdate: 28th November, 1995 

Current Age: 20 

Major Teams : Sharon Primary School Team, Combermere School Team, Barbados Under-15, Barbados Under-17, Barbados Under-19, West Indies Under-19 (Nagico Super50), YMPC, Spartan. 

Playing Role: Spin bowler. 

Bowling Style: Left-arm orthodox. 

Batting Style: Right-hand.

Education: Sharon Primary School, Belleville Grammar School, Combermere School, UWI 

Chad Williams started playing cricket at the age of six years with his father. He played for the Sharon Primary school in the local Herman Griffith competition and managed to perform solidly. He spent two years in private school where he played in the Intermediate division for the Young Men's Progressive Club at the age of 13 years old and captured seven wickets in his first game. 

He had a brief trial at the Combermere school, and was then selected for Combermere school Team in the Under-15 final in 2009 where he took 10 wickets in his first game and was rewarded with selection onto the Barbados Under-15 team in 2010 to tour Trinidad. In 2011 he also represented the Barbados Under-15 team where he won the best bowler award taking 23 wickets in the tournament. Also in 2011 at the age of 15, he was selected for the Barbados Under-19 team touring Guyana. 

In 2012, Williams represented the Barbados Under-17s in Tobago and Under-19 team in Barbados. In 2013, he played for the Barbados Under-19 team in St.Kitts and performed relatively well. In 2014 Williams toured Guyana and took 26 wickets in three three-day games and won the Best Bowler award and also took the most wickets for his country in the limited overs format. In 2015 he was rewarded with selection on the West Indies Under-19 team in the Nagico Super50 competition in Trinidad & Tobago. He took four wickets in three matches and was the most successful bowler for the Young Windies. 

In local competitions, Williams has taken two five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul in the Elite division and also was one of the best bowlers in the 2011 T20 local tournament. He has performed consistently in the 50-over format as well.

Currently, he represents the Spartan.

First Published On bcacricket.org.

BANGALORE, India, CMC – Superstar Chris Gayle’s slump continued as Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered at the hands of a quick-fire hundred by South African opener Quinton de Kock, crashing to a seven-wicket defeat to Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League here Sunday.

Sent in at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB rallied to an imposing 191 for five off their 20 overs, behind captain Virat Kohli’s 79 and South African star AB de Villiers’ 55, with seamer Mohammed Shami taking two for 34.

In reply, de Kock plundered 108 and Karun Nair, an unbeaten 54, as Delhi roared to victory with five balls to spare.

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson claimed two for 25 with his four overs of medium pace.

The victory was Delhi’s second in three outings while RCB have won one of two.

RCB were early trouble when Gayle fell to the third ball of the game without a run on the board, caught at first slip by JP Duminy off a tentative push at an out-swinger from left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan.

Since his blistering hundred against England in the opening game of the Twenty20 World Cup last month, Gayle has struggled with scores of of 4, 5, 4, 1 and 0.

Kohli, who struck seven fours and three sixes off 48 deliveries, put on 107 for the second wicket with de Villiers and another 63 with Watson, who made 33, to rebuild the innings.

West Indies seamer Carlos Brathwaite took one for 18 from two overs.

De Kock then took the game away from RCB with an innings that required 51 balls and included 15 fours and three sixes.

At 50 for two in the sixth over, the game was still open but de Kock and Nair put an end to RCB’s hopes in a 134-run, third wicket stand.

WICB Media Release.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) joins the rest of the world in marking World Heritage Day today, April 18.

The theme for this year - The Heritage of Sport – is fitting for the Caribbean region and cricket in particular as the region boasts 10 international cricket grounds, all of which has significant history for its people. A number of milestone memories were also made at these venues across the region.

Today we pay particular attention to this day for cricket. In 1994, April 18, West Indies batsman, Brian Lara, scored 375 runs at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) to erase the previous record set by Sir Garry Sobers (365).

Also on this day in 1992, the West Indies and South Africa played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. This was the first test for South Africa after being away from the game for almost 20 years. The West Indies won by 52 runs.

“The role sport plays worldwide is not to be underestimated and the WICB, following on the success of three of its teams winning World Titles within the first four months of the year, is optimistic about the opportunities for further growth for the region and the players,” says President, Dave Cameron.

The President that “a lot of cricket is being played around the world as well as in the region and we at the Board urge young people to get involved now as there are endless options for them.”

The region will host a series of tours this summer, starting June 3 in Guyana with the 2016 Tri-Nation series featuring Australia, South Africa and the West Indies; India in a four Test series and the fourth running of the Caribbean Premier League.

WICB Media Release.

WICB Media Release.

Please read at this link https://issuu.com/wicbinc/docs/annualreportoctober12014tosep302015 or see the PDF version.

WICB Media Release.

Cricinfo article.

Forty years ago Clive Lloyd and Co arrived in England ready to forge reputations. They left having established legends.

When West Indies came to England in 1976, did people in the UK realise that Clive Lloyd's team would go on to dominate world cricket for the best part of 20 years? West Indies had won the World Cup the previous year, but were then thrashed 5-1 in Australia.

Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai and Lance Gibbs had recently retired. A new generation of West Indian players, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Andy Roberts and Michael Holding, would go on to become household names. But in 1976, these players were as yet unproven at the highest level.

England opener Dennis Amiss played with Alvin Kallicharran and Deryck Murray at Warwickshire.

Amiss It was no great surprise. They had a good track record and also some experienced players. We'd met most of them on the 1974 tour and were lucky to come away with a draw. By 1976, those players had been together for two more years.

Barbados and Warwickshire fast bowler Bill Bourne had played youth cricket in West Indies with and against Lawrence Rowe, Larry Gomes, Bernard Julien, Collis King and Raphick Jumadeen.

Bourne We were hopeful for something special as our regional tournament was tough, but the results were better than expected.

David Steele, England batsman I didn't think about how good they were going to be; just turned up and played. They'd had a battering in Australia from Lillee and Thomson. They didn't like it up 'em either.

Gordon Greenidge, West Indies opener We lost 5-1 in Australia - got a real thrashing from a very professional, hard, unified side. After that, we became more committed and started playing for each other.

"I took my first ball against Andy Roberts - it went through the top of the track, puff of dust, and I gloved it and was caught first ball. I remember thinking, 'Good grief, there's not a thing I could have done about that'" FRANK HAYES

Bourne The 1975 World Cup win gives a better indication of how good that team was. Our athleticism, fitness level and fielding ability easily surpassed that of the other teams.

England had seen plenty of West Indies quick bowlers, like Andy Roberts, Vanburn Holder and Bernard Julien, in county cricket. In the second tour match, against Hampshire, Lloyd unleashed a new fast bowling star.

Andy Murtagh, Hampshire We'd heard about Michael Holding, but no one had seen him bowl over here. Watching from the pavilion, as he ran in from practically the sightscreen, was the most beautiful, terrifying sight I've ever seen. He was frighteningly fast. There was one ball I just didn't see. I remember it thudding into Deryck Murray's gloves and the slips going "Whooooah." John Arlott put it rather well in the Times the following day: "Murtagh's ability to miss the right ball finally deserted him."

Frank Hayes, England batsman Peter Lever had seen Holding in West Indies during our winter and said he was rapid. When we played against Holding in a tour game in 1974, he only bowled military medium.

Amiss Reports from Australia were that he'd bowled quickly out there.

Steele We knew they'd be quick and they were. Andy Roberts was the best. He'd run up the same as normal and bowl something a yard quicker.

Murtagh For Hampshire against West Indies in 1973, Roberts broke Steve Camacho's jaw. He was only young and hadn't quite learned how to control it, but my god, he was quick.

Hayes Geoff Boycott used to say that Vanburn Holder and Keith Boyce would bowl a yard quicker in Tests than they did in county cricket. They weren't in the same bracket as Holding, Roberts and [Wayne] Daniel. Those three bowled 90mph plus, all the time, 95mph at their quickest.

Wayne Daniel could be frighteningly fast, and make it swing. Sometimes his yorker ended up around shoulder height. He'd always apologise, though.

Steele Daniel got bounce, hit the deck. Big chap. Strange that he didn't play too many Test matches. A lovely variety of fast bowlers.

Amiss Vanburn Holder could bowl quickly when he got his rhythm right and there was a bit in the wicket. Often, though, he would bowl within himself.

Bourne Holder's line and length were impeccable. Other bowlers got wickets because of him. People looked at the pace of Andy and Michael, but the other bowlers played their part very well.

"With those long run-ups, if there were a couple of no-balls, an over could last 12 minutes" DAVID STEELE

For the first two Tests, England held their own. Dogged pros like Steele, Brian Close and John Edrich kept the West Indies pacemen at bay.

Steele I tried to wear everybody down. That's what I was all about. They were very difficult to wear down, though. For Australia, the previous year, Lillee and Thomson were outstanding, and the first change was Max Walker. But after that they had nothing; Ashley Mallett the offspinner, but not a lot of back-up. West Indies were at you all the time.

In the first Test, Viv Richards smashed 232. In the fifth he made 291 and finished the series with 829 runs. He was 24 years old.

Amiss Viv we saw in the West Indies, in 1974. He got a few for the Leeward Islands in a tour game. It didn't matter where you bowled to him, he'd find a way to get runs.

Hayes In that [Leeward Islands] match he got 40-odd, very quickly before lunch. I remember thinking: this guy could play a bit. But back in the changing room, some of the quicks were calling him a slogger.

Jim Parks, played with Richards at Somerset in 1974 From the minute we saw him we knew he was going to be something special. In one of his first games, against Gloucestershire, he got a hundred and smashed them to all parts. Took bowlers on, technique was good, had every shot in the book.

Bourne Vanburn Holder had told me to expect something special from Viv.

After a rain-affected draw at Lord's, West Indies won the third Test, at Old Trafford, by 425 runs on a pitch suited to their fast bowlers.

Hayes The week before, I played at Old Trafford for Lancashire against Surrey and when John Edrich saw the Test wicket he started to limp. The square had been deteriorating all season. It looked white, green, white, green - undulating. There was a drought on too, so cracks opened. People thought it was one of the worst Test wickets they'd ever seen. It looked like a bad track and it played like a bad'un as well.

Steele Nightmare surface, shocker, dangerous wicket.

Roberts, Holding and Daniel battered England into submission. Brian Close and John Edrich, in particular, took a fearsome going over. England selected medium-pacers Mike Selvey, Mike Hendrick and Tony Greig.

Hayes Brian Close said they had three cannons and we had three pea-shooters.

Steele It finished John Edrich. He got fed up waiting for them to bowl. With those long run-ups, if there were a couple of no-balls, an over could last 12 minutes. No restriction on over rates back then. Sometimes Edrich would wait for them at the non-striker's end. He was good at that. Closey got battered on purpose. We'd done very well up to that point.

Hayes It was my comeback Test. I took my first ball against Andy Roberts - it went through the top of the track, puff of dust, and I gloved it and was caught first ball. I remember thinking, "Good grief, there's not a thing I could have done about that."

"There was one ball I just didn't see. I remember it thudding into Deryck Murray's gloves and the slips going 'Whooooah'" ANDY MURTAGH ON FACING MICHAEL HOLDING

Greenidge People said that we didn't play the game in the right spirit. That was disappointing, because we always believed that we did. If any team had the type of fast bowling armoury that we had, they would have used it in the same way.

It was just unfortunate we were bowling at those particular players [Close was 46, Edrich 39]. That wasn't our call. England had selected them. And actually I thought that they handled themselves reasonably well.

But people said that we were violent, bringing the game to disrepute, not playing the game in the right manner. We were fierce and competitive and that was all.

Despite the wicket, Greenidge managed to score two hundreds at Old Trafford.

Murtagh Barry Richards [who opened with Greenidge at Hampshire] told me that Gordon had worked out that to make a name for himself, get into the Test side, he had to make big hundreds. To cash in once he was in. After that he started to concentrate rather than try to smash every ball for six, which he tended to do when he was younger. Gordon grew up in England, on English wickets, from age 14.

Greenidge It helped my technique. You'd play on lots of different surfaces, on uncovered wickets, which I thought were unfair to the batsman. The bowler's run-up was covered, so he'd have a dry spot to land on. Sometimes our bats had more mud on them than ball marks. And you had to score fast to set up a win inside three days. Those pitches made you think.

Amiss When West Indies came over in 1976, nearly all of them had experience of English conditions.

Greenidge Playing on softer surfaces with swing and a lot of seam movement would help people develop their techniques. You didn't get out-and-out quick bowlers, just people who can use the conditions well.

Bourne County cricket exposure was the finishing school for our players. The number of games, the practice, the training and the professionalism all helped to better hone our skills

For the fourth Test, at Headingley, England chose their own fast bowlers. Bob Willis, John Snow and Alan Ward took 18 wickets between them, but West Indies still won by 55 runs. The tourists won the final match, at The Oval, too, by 231 runs, thanks to Richards' 291 and Michael Holding's 14 wickets.

Amiss Having four fast bowlers meant they could play with greater intensity. Clive Lloyd could just rotate them and keep the pressure up. Before that, West Indies always had spinners.

They had some good experienced players too. Alvin Kallicharran could score runs on any type of wicket against the best bowlers. I remember, one game against Worcestershire, first ball, on a green wicket, Alvin smashed a Vanburn Holder bouncer for six. That's how you see them off, he told me.

Bourne Lawrence Rowe was an extraordinary player at youth level. So very compact, composed and attractive in his strokeplay.

Amiss Our Warwickshire coach, Tiger Smith, said that Clive Lloyd was the best natural batsman he ever saw.

It wasn't just the quality of players that made that West Indies side special. It was also the way they played their cricket.

Steele Excellent team. Confident. Something a bit different.

Amiss They knew they could play, had pure belief that they were good. They were a good side and happy side who enjoyed their cricket but played hard to win all the time.

Hayes They didn't appear to be coached, they played the most spontaneous shots. Fabulous side.

Bourne Previous players were good, but not as ruthlessly professional as Lloyd's players. They had a point to prove to the sceptics back home, and probably made greater sacrifices in order to be the best team.

Their success made us very proud as West Indians living in England. Back then even people who didn't play were thought of as cricketers.

Greenidge We were a bunch of guys that came together and gelled well as a fighting unit. Can't say more than that.

First Published On Cricinfo.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Dear Member,

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 

NOTICE is hereby given that the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Barbados Cricket Association (“The Association”) which was adjourned on Saturday, March 19, 2016 will now be reconvened on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. in the Press Conference Room, Hall and Griffith Stand, Kensington Oval to transact the following business: 

1.Confirmation of a Quorum 

2.Welcome and Prayers 

3.To consider and if thought advisable, to adopt the following resolution by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present, entitled to vote and voting thereon: 

WHEREAS it is considered in the best interests of The Association to repeal the Barbados Cricket Association Rules, 2003 and to adopt new Rules of The Association 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Barbados Cricket Association Rules, 2003 be and are hereby repealed and the Rules, a copy of which has been circulated by post, be and are hereby adopted as the new Barbados Cricket Association Rules, 2016, to come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. 

By order of the Board 

Anthea Ishmael 

Honorary Secretary 

April 20, 2016 

First Published On bcacricket.org.

LONDON, CMC – Former West Indies and Barbados speedster, Fidel Edwards, was facing a long spell on the sidelines after fracturing his ankle during warm-ups on the final day of Hampshire’s County Championship game against Yorkshire on Wednesday.

Hampshire confirmed the injury on Thursday and said Edwards would undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage and his recuperation period.

“Hampshire Cricket can confirm that fast-bowler Fidel Edwards has suffered a fractured right ankle which was sustained during the warm-up on day four of the Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley,” the club said in a statement.

“Fidel will see a specialist [Thursday] which will help determine the predicted length of time that he will be out of action for.”

The loss of the 34-year-old Edwards will be huge for Hampshire who are already stricken with an injury crisis that has claimed Reece Topley, Ryan Stevenson, Gareth Berg, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood and Sean Ervine.

Edwards has played both Hampshire games this season, taking three wickets against Warwickshire in the opening game earlier this month. He went wicket-less from 23 overs in the first innings against Yorkshire but was ruled out of action in the second innings.

Hampshire’s coach Dale Benkenstein said the injury came about in a freak accident during a game of football prior to the start of play.

“We were only 45 seconds away from the end of the game when Fidel went to kick the ball,” the South African said.

“I was just about to get the mitts on for fielding practice when his foot got stuck in the turf and all his weight went over on it. There was no-one near him, it was a really freakish fall and there was a loud crack.

“It was clear it was bad when he started calling out for T (Hampshire physio Thihan Chandromohan).”

Edwards was Hampshire’s leading wicket-taker last season with 45 wickets from just eight games, and was rewarded with a contract for the new season.

He has played 55 Tests for West Indies, taking 165 wickets.

Cricinfo article.

The finalised squads for the inaugural Women's Super League have been announced by the England & Wales Cricket Board, with a pool of more than 200 potential players having been narrowed down to six squads of 15.

The tournament, sponsored by Kia, will feature a mix of talent from English cricket and abroad, with each squad comprising three or four established England women's players, three overseas players, two or three England Women's Academy players, and six or seven players who have been selected through a county talent identification process.

The big overseas signings include the hard-hitting teenager, Hayley Matthews, whose 66 from 45 balls set up West Indies' remarkable World T20 victory against Australia in Kolkata earlier this month. She will be playing for Lancashire Thunder, as a replacement for Australia's Jess Jonassen who was ruled out of through injury, and will compete alongside her fellow West Indies batsman, Deandra Dottin, and the Australian Sarah Coyte.

Meg Lanning, the Australia Women's captain who is widely considered to be the best current batsman in the world, has joined Surrey Stars, where she will play under the England allrounder Natalie Sciver, while New Zealand's captain, Suzie Bates, recently named by Wisden as the leading women's cricketer in the world, will be a team-mate of the England captain, Charlotte Edwards, at Southern Vipers.

Six former England players have also been tempted out of retirement to take part in the tournament. Arran Brindle, Beth Morgan and Laura Newton, who retired from international duty in 2014, 2011 and 2007 respectively, will bring 330 international caps and a wealth of Ashes and World Cup winners' experience to the Southern Vipers, Surrey Stars and Lancashire Thunder.

Meanwhile Rosalie Fairbairn (née Birch), a 2005 Ashes winner, has been selected in the Western Storm squad, while left-arm seamer Laura Spragg and wicketkeeper Lauren Griffiths have been included in the Yorkshire Diamonds and Loughborough Lightning squads.

"The momentum behind the new Kia Super League continues to gather pace," Clare Connor, the ECB director of England Women's cricket, said. "Today marks another important piece of the jigsaw as we get set for the competition's launch later this summer.

"The six squads are well balanced and full of quality, talent, youth and experience. Having former World Cup winners and Ashes winners involved will not only strengthen the standard of the competition on the field, it will also bring another level of insight and knowledge, which will assist with meeting our overriding objective for the Kia Super League to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.

The first match of the tournament, between Yorkshire Diamonds and Loughborough Lightning, will take place at Headingley on Saturday, July 30.

Lancashire Thunder Kate Cross (EW), Sarah Taylor (EW) (capt), Danielle Wyatt (EW), Sarah Coyte (O), Deandra Dottin (O), Hayley Matthews (O), Sophie Ecclestone (EWA), Emma Lamb (EWA), Ellie Threlkeld (EWA), Natalie Brown, Georgia Holmes, Laura Marshall, Natasha Miles, Laura Newton, Nalisha Patel

Loughborough Lightning Georgia Elwiss (EW), Rebecca Grundy (EW), Amy Jones (EW), Beth Langston (EW), Sophie Devine (O), Ellyse Perry (O), Dane van Nierkerk (O), Evelyn Jones (EWA) Alex MacDonald (EWA), Georgie Boyce, Thea Brookes, Amy Gauvrit, Lauren Griffiths, Sonia Odedra, Paige Scholfield

Southern Vipers Charlotte Edwards (EW) (capt), Natasha Farrant (EW), Lydia Greenway (EW), Suzie Bates (O), Sara McGlashan (O), Megan Schutt (O), Georgia Adams (EWA), Ellen Burt (EWA), Katie George (EWA), Arran Brindle, Isabelle Collis, Daisy Gardner, Alice Macleod, Fi Morris, Carla Rudd

Surrey Stars Tammy Beaumont (EW), Laura Marsh (EW), Natalie Sciver (EW) (capt), Rene Farrell (O), Marizanne Kapp (O), Meg Lanning (O), Sophie Dunkley (EWA), Alex Hartley (EWA), Bryony Smith (EWA), Aylish Cranstone, Grace Gibbs, Cordelia Griffith, Raveena Lakhtaria, Beth Morgan, Kirstie White

Western Storm Heather Knight (EW) (capt), Anya Shrubsole (EW), Fran Wilson (EW), Lizelle Lee (O), Rachel Priest (O), Stafanie Taylor (O), Freya Davies (EWA), Sophie Luff (EWA), Amara Carr, Jodie Dibble, Rosalie Fairbairn, Georgia Hennessy, Sophie Mackenzie, Cait O'Keefe, Izzy Westbury

Yorkshire Diamonds Katherine Brunt (EW), Jenny Gunn (EW), Danielle Hazell (EW), Lauren Winfield (EW) (capt), Alex Blackwell (O), Beth Mooney (O), Shabnim Ismail (O), Hollie Armitage (EWA), Steph Butler (EWA), Alice Davidson Richards, Teresa Graves, Katie Levick, Anna Nicholls, Laura Spragg, Katie Thompson

EW = England Women O = Overseas EWA = England Women's Academy

First Published On Cricinfo.

Barbados Today article.

It was an indescribable feeling for Deandra Dottin when the West Indies Women Team won the T20 World Cup earlier this month.

“It was an unbelievable feeling. Words can’t really describe it,” the cricketer said.

As she looked back over what brought her to world champion status, Dottin reminisced that she “just used to play cricket for the fun of it; either in the road or at home with my brothers Fabian and Kheri.” Her sister Renee never played, however.

She actually wanted to be a track and field athlete but is was around age 13 or 14 when Barbados and West Indies cricketer Pamela Lavine saw her playing cricket and suggested that she attend a practice session to try out for the Barbados team. But when Deandra sought permission from her mother Melva, she would have none of it.

“My mother said ‘no’, Dottin remembered, and that was not only to her but to Lavine, coach Richard Clarke and manager Alfred Campbell as well.

Already involved in sports, Dottin was representing the island at the CARIFTA games in the shot putt, javelin and discus and went on to win gold in each of those events during her final year at the championships.

Sports was so much a part of her life that there was no argument when she asked her mother to attend netball practice one evening.

That netball practice turned out to be cricket practice and it was at that same first practice session that she was selected. At just fifteen years old, Dottin was representing Barbados and by the following year, was selected to play for the West Indies.

Born in Haynesville, St. James, her family moved to Black Bess, St. Peter while she was a very young child, before moving again a few miles further to Rock Hall, St. Andrew.

She attended Gordon Greenidge Primary and St. James Secondary (now Sir Frederick Smith Secondary).  

Now 24 years old, Dottin has already visited several Caribbean territories including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Guyana and Antigua, as well as India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh, England and Australia through the sport.

“It is a good experience, but you see this flying thing? I can’t take  sitting on an aeroplane so long,” the allrounder said.  

One of the most impactful things she has seen in her travels was observing poor people in India walking the streets and begging.

“Not being able to help them even if you wanted to because security is so tight; we have 24-hour security and they say you’re not supposed to do it. But it’s mostly women with children on the streets just begging for money to get something to eat. It is heartbreaking,” she remarked.

As expected, Dottin was familiar with the entire male West Indies cricket team but one of her greatest wishes “is to meet Sir Viv (Richards), he is one of my idols.”

Going on Safari tours in South Africa and seeing exotic animals, as well as visiting Nelson Mandela’s cell, which she described as “very touching,” also rate highly among her experiences as a touring cricketer.

The senior cricketer holds very strong views about the treatment of women in the game.  

 “Barbados does not really give sports people – and from my point of view, women – the recognition and respect they need. We were actually world champions and a lot of people feel we getting all of this big money and the payment is equal to the men. That is not so,” Dottin stated as she explained that while her male counterparts were paid US $1.5 million in prize money, the women’s purse was US $100 000 to be divided among 15 players, which was something that the West Indies Cricket Board could change.   

“In order for cricket to be better, you need to treat everybody as one. You can’t treat the men at a high level and the women at a much lower level.”   

“You only have the fame and the name,” Dottin contended.

She added that even though there are many Barbadians “who love women’s cricket and come out to support it,” there are others “who don’t think we should be playing at all.”

“We women need to be treated way better than we are being treated; money-wise and respect…regional male cricketers make more money than West Indies women in cricket,” she pointed out.

Dottin also explained that the BCA never used to pay women when they represented Barbados and only recently began “paying a little fee.”

“This sort of treatment would discourage anybody from playing cricket. Right now, as a person who plays cricket full-time and loves cricket, I am looking for something else to do. And if what I choose to do brings me more income, and makes life better for me, I will play cricket part-time. They will not get my full dedication anymore,” she stressed.

The cricketer, who is the first female international cricketer to amass a century in T20I cricket, will soon be off to the Kia Super League Tournament in England for one week; a tournament she is looking forward to playing in after Josina Luke submitted some names and she was drafted.

Dottin also thanked Owen McCall, an Australian, who sponsors her cricket gear.

She was also especially touched by the recently-held motorcade to honour the women on their return, as well as the efforts made by corporate Barbados in their presentations to team members at Q in the Community.

Going forward, she is hoping for changes in women’s cricket which will include “more respect from officials and some members of the  public as well as equal pay.” 

“Women have challenges, women have to take care of families, some (women) players are without mothers and fathers and some play cricket to earn money to pay for their education. Women need money probably more than men.

First Published In The Barbados Today.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Summarised scores and results of play in Series 1 matches of the 2016 BCA Everton Weekes Under-13 Limited Overs Championship on April 21:

ZONE A

At Kingsland:

Nicholls Baking Combermere beat Deighton Griffith by 108 runs.

Combermere 190 all out (26.2 overs) (Tré Riley 44, Romario Roach 36, Nimar Bolden 35, Joden Leacock 20; Brandon Pilgrim 3-7, Romario Brathwaite 2-47, Matthew Alleyne 2-47).

Deighton Griffith 82 all out (20.2 overs) (Matthew Alleyne 20, Kaleb Forde 2-11, Ché Simmons 2-16).

Points: Combermere 4, Deighton Griffith 0.

-

At Husbands:

Graydon Sealy beat Queen’s College by 10 runs.

Graydon Sealy 111 all out (20 overs) (Rashoun Archer 69, Shaquon Bramble 10; Dominic Brathwaite 5-17).

Queen’s College 101 all out (32.4 overs) (Christian Haynes 22, Nathan Collymore 10; Akile Cobham 2-5,  Romario Mayers-Alleyne 2-9, Geoffrey Mapp 2-22).

Points: Graydon Sealy 4, Queen’s College 0.

-

BYE: Grantley Adams.

ZONE B

At Church Hill:

Foundation beat Harrison College by four wickets.

Harrison College 106-7 (30 overs) (Jacob Bethell 33 not out, Kyle Lewis 19; Tyreque Nurse 2-12, Asa Hutchinson 2-18).

Foundation 107-6 (29.4 overs) (Nikelle Connell 37, Tyreque Nurse 17, Jordan Reifer 12, Ajani Watkins 12; Daniel Babb 2-14).

Points: Foundation 4, Harrison College 0.

-

At Cane Garden:

Princess Margaret beat Lester Vaughan by 95 runs.

Princess Margaret 203-3 (21 overs) (Dario Savoury 66, Rashawn Ramsay 39, Tarique Harris 23, Micah Stuart 18, Jaquan Callender 13).

Lester Vaughan 108 all out (18 overs) (Nathan Forde 18, Jaren Straker 17, Deshon Franklyn 12; Micah Stuart 6-18, Rashawn Ramsay 2-13).

Points: Princess Margaret 4, Lester Vaughan 0.

BYE: KFC Ellerslie.

ZONE C

At Society ‘A’:

Milo Lodge beat Coleridge & Parry by 72 runs.

Lodge 185-6 (33 overs) (Flourish Holder 60, Che Taylor 35, Joachim Forde 25 not out; Tyrese Alleyne 2-30).

Coleridge & Parry 113 all out (28.2 overs) (Depedro Jordan 30, Shomar David 25; Jevere Callender 3-20, Shamar Belle 2-14, Che Taylor 2-19).

Points: Lodge 4, Coleridge & Parry 0.

-

At Trents, St. James:

Frederick Smith v Daryll Jordan: 

Match was not played.

-

BYE: St. Michael.

-

ZONE D

At Belleplaine:

Alleyne beat St. Leonard’s by seven runs.

Alleyne 74 all out (31.3 overs) (Shaquille Greene 23, Osaie Bushay 13; Joshua Straughn 3-16, Jadyn Neil 4-10)

St. Leonard’s 67 all out (26.5 overs) (Tristan Foster 3-10, Joshua Turney 2-2, Venice Vaughan 2-5).

Points: Alleyne 4, St. Leonard’s 0.

At Queen Street:

Alexandra beat Parkinson by 200 runs.

Alexandra 256-1 (28 overs) (Baggio Worrell 118 not out, Malik Young 108 not out).

Parkinson 56 all out (13.5 overs) (Renacko Belgrave 6-6).

Points: Alexandra 4, Parkinson 0.

-

BYE: St. George.

-

POINTS (After Series 1):

ZONE A – Combermere 4, Graydon Sealy 4, Queen’s College 0, Parkinson 0.

ZONE B –Princess Margaret 4, Foundation 4, Harrison College 0, Lester Vaughan 0.

ZONE C - Lodge 4, Coleridge & Parry 0

NB: Frederick Smith v Daryll Jordan: Match was not played.

ZONE D - Alexandra 4, Alleyne 4, St. Leonard’s 0, Parkinson 0.

First Published On bcacricket.org.

Cricinfo article.

Former West Indies fast-bowler Tino Best has joined Hampshire on a short-term deal.

Best, who has played 25 Tests and 26 ODIs for the West Indies, joins the club as a Kolpak player on a short-term contract. Best, 34, has a wealth of experience in all formats and he averages 28 with the ball in 115 first-class matches and Hampshire's director of cricket Giles White challenged him to match the exploits of Fidel Edwards in straitened circumstances last summer.

His latest headlines, though, have come not from fast bowling but from his impending autobiography and his claims of an immense sexual proclivity.

White said: "Fidel joined us last year under similar circumstances, he never looked back and this is a chance for Tino to emulate him. He trained with us in Barbados during pre-season and looked good. It has come about at short notice, initially on a short term contract. He seems excited about the opportunity and very motivated to do well; we look forward to seeing how things develop."

Hampshire's current injury crisis includes fast-bowler Fidel Edwards, who suffered a fractured ankle at Headingley last week whilst fellow seamers Reece Topley, Gareth Berg and Ryan Stevenson are all currently not available for selection due to injury.

White continued: "Unfortunately Fidel has had a serious break and will have to undergo surgery on Tuesday. It's a real shame for him, he has been unbelievable since he has been with us and has become an extremely popular member of the club. We will support him through his recovery and look forward to having him back in a Hampshire shirt as soon as possible. He is a class act and the team will miss him."

Hampshire signed Craig Young, the Ireland seamer, on a short-term deal last week.

First Published On Cricinfo.

LONDON, CMC – Ex-West Indies speedster Fidel Edwards will undergo surgery on Tuesday to deal with a broken ankle sustained here last week during a freak accident.

The right-armer, who was expected to spearhead Hampshire’s attack in the English County Championship which bowled off earlier this month, broke his ankle while playing football in warm-ups ahead of the final day’s play against Yorkshire last Wednesday.

He was attempting to kick the ball when his foot got stuck in the turf, causing him to fall over in pain.

“Unfortunately Fidel has had a serious break and will have to undergo surgery on Tuesday,” Giles White, Hampshire’s Director of cricket said.

“It’s a real shame for him, he has been unbelievable since he has been with us and has become an extremely popular member of the club.

“We will support him through his recovery and look forward to having him back in a Hampshire shirt as soon as possible. He is a class act and the team will miss him.”

The 34-year-old Edwards was brilliant for the club in just a handful of matches towards the end of last season, snaring an amazing 45 wickets.

His absence has further depleted Hampshire’s fast bowling stocks with seamers Reece Topley, Gareth Berg and Ryan Stevenson all out injured.

Hampshire on Monday announced that Edwards’ former Windies teammate, Tino Best, would be brought in as cover.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Summarised scores and results of play in Series 2 matches of the 2016 BCA Everton Weekes Under-13 limited overs Championship:

ZONE A

At Beckles Road:

Graydon Sealy beat Grantley Adams by eight runs.

Graydon Sealy 72 all out (17 overs) (Kobie Hoyte 3-20, Kevin Wickham 2-14).

Grantley Adams 64 all out (14.5 overs) (Kobie Hoyte 30; Nyim Joseph 5-8, Romario Mayers-Alleyne 4-9).

Points: Graydon Sealy 4, Grantley Adams 0.

At Waterford ‘A’:

Nicholls Baking Combermere beat Queen’s College by 123 runs.

Combermere 217-4 (35 overs) (Nimar Bolden 66, Jaden Leacock 61, Ramario Roach 30 not out, Reuben Agard 16, Tré Riley 10; Antoine Hoyte 2-22).

Queen’s College 94-7 (35 overs) (Dominc Brathwaite 15, Antoine Hoyte 15 not out, Aaron Griffith 12; Kaleb Forde 2-11, Khalil Clarke 2-19).

Points: Combermere 4, Queen’s College 0.

BYE: Deighton Griffith.

ZONE B

At Crumpton Street A:

Harrison College beat Lester Vaughan by 269 runs.

Harrison College 323-5 (28 overs) (Leonard O’Garro 188, Jabari Hunte 47, Kyle Lewis 16, Raashad Hackett 10 not out; Desron Franklyn 2-31).

Lester Vaughan 54 all out (15 overs) (Jaren Straker 27; Dominick Scantlebury 4-7, Jacob Bethell 2-15).

Points: Harrison College 4, Lester Vaughan 0.

At St. Stephen’s Hill:

Foundation beat KFC Ellerslie by nine wickets.

Ellerslie 108-7 (32 overs) (Shaddico Lythcott 27, Recarlo Boyce 26; Asa Hutchinson 2-25).

Foundation 112-1 (20 overs) (Jamario St. Hill 43 not out, Azari Best 34 not out).

Points: Foundation 4, Ellerslie 0.

-

BYE: Princess Margaret.

-

ZONE C

At Ashton Hall:

Frederick Smith beat Coleridge & Parry by six wickets.

Coleridge & Parry 133-9 (35 overs) (Jaden Roberts 45 not out, Tyrese Alleyne 27, Depedro Jordan 16; Thierry Walcott 2-28).

Frederick Smith 135-4 (23 overs) (Giovonte Depeiza 60, Shomario Depeiza 15, Ty Farrell 13, Thierry Walcott 11).

Points: Fredrick Smith 4, Coleridge & Parry 0.

At Martindale’s Road:

St. Michael beat Milo Lodge by three wickets.

Lodge 107-7 (28 overs) (Flourish Holder 28 not out, Danon Scott 21; M. Boxill 2-11, N. Roett 2-30).

St. Michael 108-7 (26.3 overs) (A. Griffith 23, K. Edwards 17, A. Scantlebury 15, Flourish Holder 2-22, Che Taylor 2-27).

Points: St. Michael 4, Lodge 0.

-

BYE: Daryll Jordan.

-

ZONE D

At Belleplaine:

Alleyne beat Parkinson by 111 runs.

Alleyne 144-4 (30 overs) (Raschad Willoughby 44 not out, Jayden Branford 32, Venice Vaughn 25).

Parkinson 33 all out (12.4 overs) (Tristan Foster 4-5, Venice Vaughn 4-14).

Points: Alleyne 4, Parkinson 0.

At Constant:

St. Leonard’s beat St. George by ten wickets.

St. George 80 all out (20 overs) (Teshon Moore 15, Shaquan Shepherd 13, Ialphe Nedd 12, Tremaine Mullins 10; Joshua Straughn 4-15, Tremaine Dowrich 3-16).

St. Leonard’s 84-0 (8.4 overs) (Todd Miller 38 not out, Jadyn Neil 10 not out).

Points: St. Leonard’s 4, St. George 0.

BYE: Alexandra.

-

POINTS (After Series 2):

ZONE A – Combermere 8 (2), Graydon Sealy 8 (2), Queen’s College 0 (2), Deighton Griffith 0 (1), Grantley Adams 0 (1).

ZONE B – Foundation 8 (2), Harrison College 4 (2), Princess Margaret 4 (1), Ellerslie 0 (1), Lester Vaughan 0 (2).

ZONE C - Frederick Smith 4 (1), Lodge 4 (2), St. Michael 4 (1),, Coleridge & Parry 0 (2).

NB: Series 1: Frederick Smith v Daryll Jordan: Match was not played.

ZONE D - Alleyne 8 (2), Alexandra 4 (1), St. Leonard’s 4 (2), Parkinson 0 (2), St. George 0 (1).

First Published On bcacricket.org.

LONDON, CMC - Former West Indies fast bowler Tino Best says he could not turn down the chance to follow in the footsteps of West Indies greats Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge in playing for English County side Hampshire.

Best has joined Hampshire on a short-term deal, replacing fellow former Barbados and West Indies speedster, Fidel Edwards, who has been ruled out by injury.

“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” he told BBC Radio Solent.

“I’m really blessed to have this opportunity and I’m ready to bowl as hard as I can.”

Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge are among former Hampshire overseas players from Barbados

“I’m just relishing the opportunity to play for the same county as West Indies greats like Marshall and Greenidge,” Best said.

“I’ve always been a student of the game. Cricket’s my first love and it’s what pays the bills.”

Best is at the twilight of his playing career having last made an international appearance in January 2014.

His move to Hampshire will be his second spell in county cricket, after playing for Yorkshire in 2010.

“The key with fast bowling is it’s all about fitness. Ottis Gibson (England bowling coach and former West Indies head coach) says it’s all about desire,” said Best, who played in the Masters Champions League in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the winter.

“It’s all about working hard and that desire will never leave me.”

LONDON, England, CMC - Barbados-born English pacer Chris Jordan has signed a deal to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Jordan, who was not picked up by a franchise during the auction in February, is expected to leave his club Sussex immediately to replace the injured Australian pacer Mitchell Starc.

The right arm fast bowler will fly out on Saturday after Bangalore called him up when Starc did not recover from a foot injury.

“We are happy to support Chris in his decision to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2016,” said Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket.

“Participating in the tournament will be a good opportunity for him to further develop his white-ball skills and experience.”

Jordan,27, who emerged as a key death bowler taking six wickets at the World T20, was a member of the England side which lost to West Indies in the finals.

He is also highly favoured to be selected on England’s Test side for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Mark Wood.

Wood, a seamer, last week underwent an ankle operation, his second in five months.

However Jordan is yet to make an appearance for Sussex this season, having missed the opening rounds of the Championship to rest an elbow problem.

BANGALORE, India, CMC-West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith says his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Gujarat Lions had backed itself to chase down a 200-plus score, if necessary, following their triumph over the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.

Smith chipped in with 32 off 21 balls in an opening stand of 47 with Brendon McCullum as Lions registered a six-wicket victory over RCB with three balls to spare

RCB scored 180 for two in their 20 overs on the strength of an unbeaten century from Virat Kohli while Lions used up their batting depth to chase the target.

“[If] we would have been set 200, we could have made 200 as well,” said Smith.

“Having said that, we still have to bat properly, and [I am] glad that we did that to get over the line.”

Smith, one of the two changes made to the Lions side, says the extra batsman boosted their top order batting after a disappointing batting performance in their ten-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“We have to play on how the pitch was playing,” said the Barbadian cricketer.

“The extra batsman was the way to go and I think we missed that in the last game. It’s good to see that we’ve got back to winning ways.”

Smith’s innings included three fours and two sixes while McCullum struck five fours and two sixes including 25 off the sixth over to reduce the run rate.

“It was just natural. Myself and Baz [McCullum] have played for long time,” Smith said. “We know each other. We complement each other well.”

The win over RCB at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, was Lions’ fourth in five matches.