KHULNA – Opener Lendl Simmons and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas hit high-powered half-centuries as West Indies warmed up for tomorrow’s start of the five-match limited-overs series with a 118-run victory over the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI yesterday.
In a 50-over game at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, West Indies piled up 361 for seven, with Simmons top-scoring with 84 and Thomas chipping in with 61 down the order.
Kieron Pollard, captaining the side in Darren Sammy’s absence, scored 44, while Kieran Powell (34), Darren Bravo (31) and Dwayne Smith (30) all got starts.
In reply, the BCB XI were dismissed for 243 off 49.1 overs with Mominul Haque and Imrul Kayes both stroking 43.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine led the Windies attack with three for 47, while pacer Kemar Roach got two for 40 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul two for 52.
Though key players like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Sammy were rested, West Indies still made light work of their opponents with an impressive batting display.
Winning the toss and batting, the tourists got an uptempo start from Simmons and Powell who posted 68 from 55 balls for the first wicket.
The right-handed Simmons hit 12 fours and two sixes off just 81 balls, while Powell, who got two centuries in the recent first Test, cracked three fours and two sixes in his 24-ball cameo.
Once the left-handed Powell was bowled by seamer Farhad Reza in the tenth over, Simmons and Smith put on 81 for the second wicket, with Smith unusually subdued in gathering his runs from 41 balls.
Both batsmen fell in successive overs from leg-spinner Marshall Ayub to leave the Windies on 156 for three in the 26th over, but Bravo and Pollard kept the pressure on with a busy 61 for the fourth wicket off 43 balls.
Bravo stroked five fours off 27 balls, while Pollard was his usually aggressive self, belting five fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock.
West Indies’ momentum dipped when they lost three wickets for 37 runs in the space of 32 balls but Thomas, who has replaced Test keeper Denesh Ramdin for the limited overs series, counted five fours and three sixes. (CMC)
