Shaky start for President’s XI in reply to England

COOLIDGE – Openers Jeremy Solozano and Shayne Moseley fell cheaply, and the Cricket West Indies President’s XI reached 48 for two, replying to England’s first inning total of 466 for six declared, at the close in their four-day tour match on Wednesday in Antigua.

Solozano was run out for 17 and Jack Leach bowled Moseley for 20 when the English gave their bowlers a chance to shine after tea on the second day of the non-first class match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

At stumps, Keacy Carty, a member of the West Indies Under-19 side that won the 2016 ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh, was not out on eight, and hometown hero and fellow Leeward Islands Hurricanes batsman Devon Thomas was not out on one.

Earlier, Jonny Bairstow scored an undefeated 106 and shared three successive stands of over 50 that galvanised England’s strong batting after they resumed from their overnight total of 251 for nine.

The 32-year-old Yorkshireman struck 12 fours and one six from 158 balls in 4 1/4 hours at the crease and shared three successive stands of over 50 with Dan Lawrence, Ben Foakes, and Chris Woakes that will reassure the English heading into first Test, starting next Tuesday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, a few kilometres away.

Bairstow put on 64 for the fifth wicket with Lawrence, 57 for the sixth wicket with Foakes, and 111 – unbroken – for the seventh wicket with Woakes.

Lawrence made 83, Woakes was not out on 49, and Foakes got 25.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force off-spinner Bryan Charles ended with 3-143 from his 48 overs, and Windward Islands Volcanoes pacer Shermon Lewis finished with 2-75 from 23 overs.

Summarised scores:

ENGLAND 466 for six declared (Jonny Bairstow 106 not out, Dan Lawrence 83, Alex Lees 65, Zac Crawley 62, Joe Root 54, Chris Woakes 49 not out, Ben Foakes 25, Ben Stokes 11; Bryan Charles 3-143, Shermon Lewis 2-75).

CWI PRESIDENT’S XI 48 for two (Shayne Moseley 20, Jeremy Solozano 17).

(AR)