PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Discarded West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons smashed a stroke-filled half-century in the first national trial match as he warmed up nicely for next month’s regional one-day championship in Jamaica.
The right-hander, who has been overlooked by West Indies selectors since the one-day tour of Australia at the start of the year, cracked 85 to fire Daren Ganga’s XI to a comfortable 73-run win over Samuel Badree’s XI at the National Cricket Centre.
Simmons hammered eight fours and a six as Ganga’s XI piled up 268 for six from their allotted 50 overs, with former Young West Indies batsman Jason Mohammed stroking an unbeaten 56 and West Indies rookie left-hander Darren Bravo scoring a typically stylish 43.
Former Windies left arm spinner Dave Mohammed claimed three for 48.
Denesh Ramdin then hit a top score of 47 as Badree’s XI folded for 195 all out off 43 overs, with T&T under-19 captain Yannick Ottley hammering an unbeaten 41 and all-rounder Imran Khan, 39.
West Indies Under-19 leg-spinner Yannic Carriah claimed four for 37 while pacers Navin Stewart (2-33) and Richard Kelly (2-35) finished with two wickets apiece.
