Sri Lanka's seamers ploughed through the West Indies top order then weathered a Marlon Samuels surge to set up a 19-run Duckworth-Lewis victory and complete the series whitewash. Buoyed by Samuels' 94-ball 110 not out, West Indies got to 206 for 9 from their 36 overs, but, having had them at 105 for 6 before a 135-minute rain interruption, Sri Lanka had that total scaled down via the Duckworth Lewis method. Kusal Perera top-scored with 50 off 47 balls in a chase of 190. Sri Lanka had moved to 179 for 5 after 32 overs when rains came down again to end the match. The par-score at that final interruption was 160.
A West Indies victory always seemed unlikely when they lost four batsmen in the first six overs. Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal collected two wickets each in their opening bursts, then a little later Dushmantha Chameera dismissed Denesh Ramdin with raw pace. Ajantha Mendis had also claimed a wicket before the big downpour came. Sri Lanka lacked some discipline as they were forced to contend with a slippery ball after the break, but just as his frontliners appeared to be losing their way, a half-fit Angelo Mathews stepped into the breach to deliver two cheap overs towards the close.
All too often, issues of the greatest importance get side-tracked and lost in a cloud of irrelevancies.
Unfortunately, that happens a lot in the Caribbean.
For that reason, this newspaper believes Caricom's Cricket Review Panel acted wisely in saying up front that its far-reaching recommendations regarding West Indies cricket are in no way personal.
Note the assurance: "The panel wishes to state unequivocally it has no issues with the individuals who occupy the leadership and composition of the WICB or the territorial boards."
Rather, the panel's recommendation for "the immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board whose structure and composition will be radically different" from the current "obsolete governance framework" is simple common sense.
OF ALL the findings contained in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Sub-Committee on Cricket Governance report that was publicised this past week, there exists one item that was certain to be the greatest point of contention — the recommendation that the current West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) be disbanded and an interim committee installed to run the regional game.
The investigation was conducted by an independent review panel of five, including its chairman- principal of the UWI Cave Hill campus Professor V Eudine Barriteau. In its report, the panel spoke of an interim board “whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework.” On Thursday, Dr Keith Mitchell, Grenadian Prime Minister and a member of the sub-committee, defended the panel’s recommendation on regional TV broadcaster, Sportsmax, claiming that overall reaction to it was favourable.
“In terms of the necessity for drastic changes in the methodology and the operation and structure of WI cricket, it is indisputable,” he told the show’s hosts, Simon Crosskill and Lance Whittaker.
Rain stymied Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s progress on the opening day of the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Regional Four-Day tournament. At the close of the first day’s play at Warner Park in St. Kitts the Red Force finished on 155 for three. Opening batsman Evin Lewis top scored with 66 while Narsingh Deonarine was unbeaten on 43 and Yannic Cariah on 28. The Leeward Islands Hurriances capitalised early on their decision to bowl first first. They removed opening batsman Kjorn Ottley for six, caught by Orlando Peters off Rahkeem Cornwall’s bowling and Kyle Hope for one, edging fast bowler Gavin Tonge to wicketkeeper Jaison Peters.
GUYANA and West Indies opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika recorded his maiden First-Class century, which laid a firm foundation for the Guyana Jaguars on the opening day of the 2015-2016 season of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-day Tournament against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.At the Guyana National Stadium the Jaguars reached 287-4 from 94 overs at stumps, after winning the toss and taking first strike. Chandrika’s unbeaten 140 was constructed in six hours, as he faced 310 balls, 21 of which were dispatched to the boundary.He played an impressive innings with well–timed shots that entertained the sprinkling of spectators, while Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul resolutely supported the 27-year-old in three solid partnerships.
Bridgetown, Barbados, November 6 - (www.bcacricket.org) - Barbados Pride were 262 for two off 96 overs in their first innings at the close of play after they were sent in by Jamaica Scorpions on the opening day of the first round WICB PCL first-class match at Kensington Oval today. The not out batsmen were captain Kraigg Brathwaite on 111 and Shamarh Brooks, 49. The 22-year-old Brathwaite's 14th first-class century came in 297 minutes off 256 balls and included seven boundaries. He reached his half-century in 222 minutes off 176 deliveries with three fours.
