If the opening day results of this year's Red Stripe Bowl are any indication,
then Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands and the United States will all have
trouble making an impact against more seasoned West Indian regional
opponents.
Leeward Islands, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica all scored easy wins on the
opening day of the West Indies' regional one-day championships against their
international opponents. Nonetheless, instant success is not the expectation
for the ICC associate and affiliate entrants in this tournament, for whom it
represents a step a long-term developmental strategy.
Jamaica defeated the United States:
Laurie Williams took 5/12 from nine overs as Jamaica cruised to an easy 107-
run victory over the USA at Kaiser Sports Club, Discovery Bay, Jamaica
yesterday.
Jamaica set the ball rolling with an effortless 264 for 4 in their fifty
overs, with scores from Marlon Samuels (59*), Keith Hibbert (55), Wavell
Hinds (46), Brendon Parchment (42) and a swashbuckling 18-ball 37 from
Franklyn Rose.
The United States made a creditable start and were 110 for 1 when Williams
was brought into the attack at the start of the 33rd over. The West Indian
one-day seamer cut a swathe through the American middle order, the northern
visitors struggling onwards to finish their fifty overs on 157 for 7. Dave
Wallace was top score for the US with 44.
Barbados defeated Canada:
Barbados needed just 32.4 overs to overhaul the target of 139 for victory set
by Canada at the Kensington Club ground in Kingston. Muneeb Diwan's 61 was
the standout in a Canadian innings of 138, achieved in 48.2 overs. Hendy
Bryan (3/34) was the most successful of the Barbados bowlers. The loss of
Philo Wallace without a run on the board was but a temporary setback for
Barbados, Sherwin Campbell (33) and Floyd Reifer (69 from 72 balls) setting
the pace as they cruised to an easy win by seven wickets. The experienced
Brian Rajadurai, who played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka in the 1980's,
was the most impressive of the Canadian bowlers, taking 1/34 with his legbreaks.
Leeward Islands defeated Bermuda:
Bermuda's Janeiro Tucker was the highest scorer for either side as the
Leeward Islands despatched their international opponents by five wickets at
the Antigua Recreation Ground, St John's, yesterday.
Tucker made 57 in a Bermudan total of 129 all out in 46 overs. Opening
bowlers Goldwin Prince (4/22) and new West Indies international Kerry Jeremy
(3/27) did most of the damage.
The Leewards lost early wickets and at one stage were 74 for 4, however their
run-rate was well in advance of Bermuda's. Dave Joseph (36) and Keith
Arthurton (30*) saw the home side through to victory with almost eleven overs
to spare. Left-arm spinner Hassan Durham (2/23 from ten overs), who took the
new ball, was the most impressive of the Bermuda bowlers.
Guyana defeated the Windward Islands:
Carl Hooper is back. For now anyway. Making first appearance in Caribbean
cricket since April 1999, Hooper scored 41 from 43 deliveries as Guyana
crushed the Cayman Islands by 139 runs at Ronald Webster Park, Anguilla.
Keith Semple (79) and Azeem Haniff (40) were the other major contributors to
the Guyanese fifty overs total of 224 for 9. Mahendra Nagamootoo took 5/23
from ten overs as the Caymans, batting a man short through injury, were
dismissed for 75 in 33.5 overs. A rain interruption meant that their target
was adjusted under the Duckworth-Lewis method to 215 from 46 overs. Reon King
(2/9) and Colin Stuart (1/26) were the other wicket-takers for Guyana.
For the Cayman Islands, their star player of the day was all-rounder Laurie
Cunningham, who took 4/31 from seven overs with his off-breaks, and then made
22 - one of only two Cayman batsmen to reach double figures.
The pick of Thursday's matches sees Barbados take on Trinidad, while Guyana
face the Windwards. Bermuda play the Caymans, while the USA and Canada
continue the oldest rivalry in international cricket, one which began in
1844.