BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Stylish former West Indies batsman Carl Hooper produced an archetypical knock and also grabbed two wickets to spur West Indies Masters to an exciting one-run victory over Sri Lanka’s Masters in the opening game of the CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 tournament on Friday night.
The right-handed Hooper, who played 102 Tests for West Indies before quitting in 2003, scored an attractive 44 to dazzle the appreciative crowd at Kensington Oval as his side marched to 147 for six from their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka seemed to be on course to victory at one stage at 85 for three but Hooper took key wickets down the order to restrict the visitors to 146 all out off their 20 overs.
Hooper, who now resides in Australia, helped repair the West Indies Masters innings after it plunged to 28 for three early on. He shared an entertaining stand of 34 for the fourth wicket with Collis King who cracked a lively 21 before being bowled behind his back
The elegant Hooper rolled back the years with some sweetly timed shots as he reeled off three fours in one over in his 38-ball knock.
He was eventually run out as he ambled from his crease with West Indies Masters on 81 for five but Courtney Browne played a cameo, unbeaten 44 from 16 balls to get the hosts up to their eventual score.
Browne, the former Barbados and West Indies wicketkeeper, smashed four sixes and posted a frenetic 62-run, unbroken sixth wicket stand with Vasbert Drakes who finished on 18.
Former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Attapattu then top scored with 44 and got support from Indika de Saram who scored 42 not out, but they just failed to reach their target.
Outstanding former Windies seamer Curtly Ambrose was at his miserly best claiming three for 22 while off-spinner Nehemiah (2-21) and Hooper (2-37) got two wickets apiece.