First 50-overs A match: West Indies 'A' vs Cricket Web 'A'
in Toronto
West Indies 'A' came out fighting, but apart from Adrian Barath's 96, they were unable to muster the same firepower as Sam Morris and Peter Young showed in the rebuilding effort. A disappointing top order showing may mean changes for the next game, however.
After being put in, the openers folded to Ravi Rampaul, and Cricket Web 'A' wilted to eleven for two. Blackman and Young struggled with the field in, but occasionally broke the shackles with neat dabs, though Blackman was dismissed by Bennett in the sixteenth over after a circumspect 21.
However, the Caribbeans failed to apply pressure in the middle overs, which Dave Mohammed must take most of the blame for. Failing to flight the ball properly, he was never a particular threat, and Morton required plenty of bowling rotation. Eventually, Young dragged on Sammy for 81 with ten overs to spare, but Morris, having survived the spin, now took full advantage of the Twenty20-like conditions for his maiden List A hundred. Read also helped to batter the boundary, and the total stood at a respectable 279 for four.
With early runs required, West Indies 'A' lost both Smith and Findlay cheaply, and were unable to take advantage of the fielding restrictions. Thus, they needed more than 6.5 an over for the final thirty overs, and even on the good Toronto wicket it seemed a tall order. When Morton smacked out to complete a horrid 24, it looked even more a pipe dream, but dropped catches and a very solid performance from Adrian Barath kept the hosts in it until eight overs remained. Then Wright had both Barath and Baugh caught by Maina, top edges flying square, and with three wickets in hand West Indies 'A' keeled over for 213.
Cricket Web 'A' 279 for four (50)
Morris 120*, Young 81; Rampaul 2/62
West Indies 'A' 213 all out (47.5)
Barath 96; Wright 4/50
Cricket Web 'A' won by 66 runs
Man of the Match: S. C. Morris (Cricket Web 'A*)