Extras decisive in Antigua classic
Cricket Web 'A' vs West Indies 'A'
in Antigua
The ARG crowd was in for a treat as the Cricket Web 'A' vs West Indies 'A' finally made a turn for the competitive with a thrilling tied result. Needing 9 runs off the final over the innings, the West Indians looked to be heading for defeat when Banks was bowled by Rose halfway through.
Indeed, it took an unfortunate gift from the tourists which went a long way toward the final result. Rose fired a ball marginally down the legside and it beat Lezama to race to the boundary for four wides. Richard Kelly then took a quick single off the final delivery to seal the tie.
Considering the superb batting conditions at the ground, the end result was shocking, if only because neither team managed more than 229 runs. Cricket Web struggled after winning the toss and batting first. Tarick Weber needed to hit the last four balls of the innings for boundaries to give the total its eventual measure of respectability.
While DeSilva, Fuller and Lezama had played good innings earlier, momentum was difficult to gather, especially against the controlled offspin of Gareth Breese and Omari Banks.
Set 230 for victory, West Indies 'A' was off to a solid start behind an impressive half-century from Ryan Ramdass and an opening stand of 89. Tarick Weber made the first breakthrough as he bowled beautifully throughout the innings. When he clipped Daren Ganga's offbail in the 41st over, it breathed further excitement into an already intriguing competition.
At that stage, 66 runs were needed off the final 54 balls and the demand of chase intensified. Fuller trapped Joseph (9), then Deonarine launched Rose for a straight six before he too was out. The equation slimmed to 44 off 39 and Kelly joined Carlton Baugh jr. at the crease.
Sean Fuller attempted a slower ball to Kelly in the 45th over, but the left-hander picked it beautifully and deposited into the stands at midwicket. The momentum shifted and 31 were needed off 30 balls. Baugh was dropped by Wilson in the deep off Rose, but he was yorked by the same bowler two overs later.
Just 14 balls remained and 19 runs were the goal. By the start of the 49th over, a run had been added. Borcich to Banks: squeezed off the outside edge down to the third man rope - 9 off the over. Rose discussed the approach with his captain at the top of the mark, then ran in to round out the classic...
Cricket Web 'A' 229/7 (50 overs)
West Indies 'A' 229/7 (50 overs)
Game tied.
Man of the Match: SE Fuller
Series: CW 'A' leads 1-0