Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cricket


Lendl Simmons hit 102 and Brendan Nash 78 as West Indies declared their first innings on 315-6 on day two of their warm-up match with Leicestershire.
Simmons, whose uncle Phil was an overseas player at Grace Road between 1994 and 1998, shared a 154-run stand spanning 30 overs with Nash.
Both men retired unbeaten to allow team-mates batting practice. Paceman Alex Wyatt, 18, finished with 3-42.
The hosts, who made 182 in their first innings, were 51-1 at stumps.
"It was a pretty flat batting track and I enjoyed it," said Simmons, who also hit a hundred at Grace Road playing for West Indies A against Leicestershire nearly three years ago.
"I know my uncle played here a few years ago and I also played here for the A team a few years ago and I enjoyed today - it was a good feeling.
"It was important I made a good start to the tour. I've taken this warm-up game very seriously and I wanted to make a good show of myself.
"I have been looking forward to this series, particularly the first Test at Lord's, and I'm feeling in good nick."
On Monday, Windies coach John Dyson delivered a scathing verdict on the Grace Road pitch after seeing Leicestershire dismissed for a small total and his side reduced to 80-4.
But a change in conditions and a determined display from the West Indies middle order rather showed up his comments, with the tourists ending the 100 overs of their first innings - the maximum allowed for the three-day warm-up matches - 138 runs ahead.
The 24-year-old Simmons scored a double-hundred for West Indies A against England in St Kitts and made his Test debut in the final match of the series in Trinidad.
That display earned him a place in West Indies' tour squad and he chose his uncle's old stomping ground to enhance his claims for selection in the opening Test at Lord's on 6 May.
Resuming overnight on 21, Simmons was given one reprieve on 79 when he slashed at left-arm seamer Harry Gurney and was dropped at slip by Boeta Dippenaar, but otherwise he seemed to have adjusted to the conditions impressively.
He retired hurt only three balls after reaching his century with his 11th four through extra cover, but had recovered sufficiently from cramp in his right arm to keep wicket when Leicestershire began their reply.
Nash was equally impressive and, although he was watchful at first, he also hit 11 fours before retiring after being hit on the thigh.
The pair's premature retirements allowed Dinesh Ramdin, leading the side in the absence of skipper Chris Gayle, who is playing in the IPL, to forge a 54-run stand with Sulieman Benn.
Ramdin made 36 before being caught in the deep to hand Dippenaar his maiden first-class wicket in a career spanning nearly 14 years.
Emerging seamer Andrew Richardson ensured West Indies finished the day in buoyant spirits by removing opener Tom New in his second over when he fended a short ball to gully.

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