ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Guyanese left-hander Narsingh Deonarine staked his claim ahead of the opening Test against New Zealand starting Wednesday, with a stroked-filled century on the second day of the three-day match against the tourists here yesterday.
Deonarine, who lost his Test place on the recent tour of England, scored 106 as the West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI finished the day on 299 for seven.
Earlier, New Zealand were dismissed for 149 after starting the day on 137 for eight at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The 28-year-old Deonarine was in superb touch, striking 15 fours and two sixes in an innings that required just 124 balls, as he chalked up his eighth first class century.
Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul extended his excellent form with 51, while Assad Fudadin got 38 and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, 32.
However, the batting woes of Test vice-captain Kirk Edwards continued as he made three before becoming one of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori’s four wickets on the day.
The right-handed Edwards endured a wretched spell of form on the England tour, managing just eight runs in four Test innings before being dropped.
Adrian Barath (10) and Kieran Powell (25) put on 36 for the first wicket before Vettori accounted for the top three to send the President’s XI tumbling to 45 for three.
Barath was taken at silly point by Brendon McCullum while Powell holed out to Martin Guptill at mid-on. With no runs added, Edwards was deceived and stumped.
Fudadin, who made his Test debut last month on the tour of England, put on 59 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul before dragging on leg-spinner Tarun Nethula.
Deonarine then joined Chanderpaul to put on 131 for the fifth wicket, in an entertaining stand.
He reached his half-century off 64 balls with a cover drive for four and moved to 99 with a similar stroke before reaching three figures with a single.
The mark came up in 156 minutes off 115 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.
Chanderpaul, meanwhile, brought up his fifty off 136 balls in 200 minutes at the crease before becoming Vettori’s fourth victim as he aimed for his fifth boundary but holed out to mid-on.
Deonarine was also eventually taken in the deep off left-arm seamer Neil Wagner who claimed two for 50.
(Scoreboard unavailable)
