CARDIFF, Wales, CMC – Rain ruined a potentially dramatic West Indies A run chase yesterday, forcing a disappointing draw in their three-day first class tour match against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Set 283 from 66 overs for victory, West Indies sprinted to 54 for one before rain halted play at 3:05 pm, resulting in an early tea. With rain still around an hour later, umpires Paul Baldwin and Tim Robinson called play off in an anti-climactic end to the encounter.
Earlier, Glamorgan had pushed their overnight 126 for six to 172 without further loss, after rain cancelled out the morning session and forced a 1:45 pm start.
In the time available, Nick James (56) Robert Croft (56) both completed unbeaten, half-centuries as they gathered quick runs to enable a declaration.
Seamers Lionel Baker (2-49) and Gavin Tonge (2-56) finished with two wickets apiece following their successes on Sunday.
West Indies A suffered an early setback when Justin Guillen fell without scoring, edging the second ball he faced to wicketkeeper Will Bragg off left-arm fast bowler Adam Shantry, with the score on six in the second over.
But captain Devon Smith counter-attacked and his 30 came from 31 balls and included five fours, mostly drives off the front foot.
He shared an entertaining 48 for the second wicket with fellow left-hander Omar Phillips whose unbeaten 19 came from 27 balls and was decorated with four fours.
While Smith collected his runs with elegant front foot flourish, Phillips reeled off some fabulous strokes off the back foot, as West Indies A reached their fifty in the eighth over.
Just when it seemed as if something special would unfold, the rains returned to crush the hopes of players and the sprinkling of spectators who had turned up.
Glamorgan had earlier benefited from James and Croft’s enterprise as the pair extended their seventh wicket stand to 96.
The 23-year-old, left-handed James, a former England Under-19, struck nine fours off 125 balls while the veteran Croft was more aggressive, facing just 59 balls while whacking nine fours and upper-cut six.
West Indies A will now turn their attention to the first of two four-day Tests against India A starting Thursday at Grace Road in Leicestershire.
