Windies win warm-up

Stroke-maker Darren Bravo and all-rounder, Raymon Reifer, both gathered half-centuries while speedsters Shannon Gabriel and Sheldon Cottrell snatched three-wicket hauls, as West Indies warmed up for the Tri-Nations Series starting in Ireland next week.

Playing in a practice game against a Barbados Cricket Association XI at 3Ws Oval, UWI Cave Hill Campus today, Bravo top-scored with 64 and fellow left-hander Reifer carved out 62, as the West Indies XI tallied 326 for seven off 50 overs.

Roston Chase struck 36 while Sunil Ambris and Jonathan Carter both chipped in with 33 apiece.

Left-hander John Campbell, who made his one-day debut earlier this year against England, struck 28 off 31 balls in a 49-run opening stand with the uncapped Shane Dowrich (12).

When both fell in the space of nine balls, Bravo stepped up to anchor two stands – adding 77 for the third wicket with Chase and a further 57 for the fourth wicket with Carter.

All told, Bravo faced 76 balls and lashed three fours and four sixes.

Reifer then controlled the latter stages of the innings, punching four fours and three sixes in an exciting 41-ball knock as he put on 41 for the sixth wicket with Ambris and 76 for the seventh wicket with Ashley Nurse (26).

Twenty-one year-old Barbados fast bowler Chemar Holder picked up three for 50.

In reply, Barbados first class wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott top-scored with 69 of 78 balls while Barbados captain Shamarh Brooks chipped in with 31.

The innings was slumping at 91 for five in the 23rd over when Walcott put on 52 for the sixth wicket with Brooks and a further 68 for the eighth wicket with Chaim Holder (30).

However, left-armer Cottrell (3-41) and Gabriel (3-45) crippled the innings, sending the BCA XI tumbling for 234 in the final over, to win by 92 runs. (CMC)