LEICESTER, England, CMC – Even as West Indies prepare to field a novice top order in the first Test against England, Ramnaresh Sarwan, a seasoned former member of their line up was busy stroking his second century of the County Championship here yesterday.
The classy 31-year-old right-hander, who has played 87 Tests, reeled off 117 to propel Leicestershire to 323 for five at the close on the opening day of their clash with Essex at Grace Road.
Sarwan, who has not played for West Indies in nearly a year, stroked 14 fours off 205 balls in an innings spanning a shade over five hours at the crease.
Opting to bat first, Leicestershire plunged to 29 for three early in the morning courtesy of a devastating burst from veteran seamer David Masters before Sarwan bailed out the hosts with a superb innings.
He put on 216 for the fourth wicket with Joshua Cobb who got 80 and another 54 for the fifth wicket with Wayne White, who was unbeaten at the close on 41.
Sarwan’s stand with Cobb was the highest in for the fourth wicket Leicestershire against Essex in 100 years, beating the 127 posted in 1900. Sarwan became Masters’s fourth wicket late in the evening when he fell lbw to the right-armer.
