ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Kirk Edwards and Kraigg Brathwaite both stroked half-centuries as West Indies A carved out a handsome six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe on the final day of their four-day, first class match yesterday.
Edwards hammered an entertaining, unbeaten 72 while Brathwaite cracked 62 at the top of the order to propel the hosts to their target of 257 for four at the Queen’s Park Stadium.
Earlier, Zimbabwe added just 29 runs after resuming at their overnight 322 for seven, with fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel (2-60) and Nelon Pascal (2-67) accounting for the last three wickets to fall.
Andy Blignaut failed to add to his overnight 72 while Graeme Cremer carried his 30 to 47 before being bowled by Gabriel.
Brathwaite and fellow opener Justin Guillen then gave West Indies A another solid start, adding 36 for the first wicket to launch the run chase.
Guillen stroked three fours in 20 off 31 balls before driving medium pacer Chamu Chibhabha to cover for Charles Coventry to snare an easy catch.
Brathwaite, who struck eight fours in an innings spanning 146 balls and 191 minutes, then shared a 68-run stand for the second wicket with Jason Haynes whose 30 came from 61 balls.
When the left-hander fell to a catch at mid-wicket by Timycen Maruma off leg-spinner Cremer, Brathwaite combined in another important stand of 38 for the third wicket with captain Travis Dowlin.
The right-handed Dowlin, who was busy in gathering 31 from 25 balls, fell to a catch by Cremer at mid-wicket off fast bowler Maruma trying to play through the on-side and when Brathwaite went soon afterward, Zimbabwe were in with a sniff at 161 for four just before tea.
But Edwards and Dowrich then shared in a 96-run, fifth wicket partnership to deny the visitors, playing confidently against the varied bowling attack.
The right-handed Edwards cracked seven fours and a six off just 79 balls while Dowrich, a West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman, was unbeaten on 33 from 78 balls with three boundaries.
West Indies A will now clash with Zimbabwe in two Twenty20 matches on Thursday and Saturday.
