BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Test batsman Shai Hope and former West Indies opener Omar Phillips stroked half-centuries as a Barbados Select XI dealt West Indies a 50-run defeat in the first of two warm-up matches here Wednesday night.
In a day/night encounter at Kensington Oval, the Select XI piled up 290 for eight off their 50 overs, with the stylish Hope carving out a top score of 61 and Phillips getting 58.
Off-spinner Ashley Nurse claimed three for 61 while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel picked up two for 75.
In reply, West Indies were restricted to 240 all out off 47.1 overs thanks to leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr who finished with three for 17 from four overs and seamers Kevin Stoute (2-28), Tarik Shorey (2-33) and Dario Seale (2-50), all of whom finished with two wickets apiece.
Jamaican Rovman Powell smashed a top score of 58 while Nurse completed a solid all-round game with a fantastic even 50 off a mere 31 balls.
Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin chipped in with 32 while Darren Bravo got 24 and Marlon Samuels, 23.
The Select XI got a great start after the left-handed Phillips put on 58 for the first wicket with Kyle Corbin who made 14, and a further 53 for the second wicket with Hope.
Phillips, who played two Tests during the senior players strike seven years ago, struck seven fours and two sixes off 66 deliveries while Hope gathered seven fours off 79 balls.
When Phillips fell to give Nurse his second wicket, Hope and Roston Chase (18) added 40 for the third wicket before both fell in the space of 18 balls, to leave the Select XI on 165 for four in the 36th over.
However, Shamarh Brooks stroked 44 from 37 balls with two fours and two sixes and captain Stoute hit 29 from 41 balls, to revive the innings in a 60-run, fifth wicket partnership.
Kyle Mayers arrived late on to belt 29 from 13 deliveries, to provide the flourish at the end.
Shorey and Stoute then scythed through the West Indies top order to leave the innings in ruins at 81 for five in the 20th over.
Johnson Charles played across one from Shorey in the fourth over and was lbw for seven at 15 for one and in the left-armer’s next over, Andre Fletcher pulled a catch to mid-wicket to fall for seven at 20 for two.
Samuels struck four fours in a 20-ball knock before perishing lbw to Stoute in the 12th over and eight balls later, left-hander Jonathan Carter fended off a short ball from Seale to be caught at point without scoring at 59 for four.
When Bravo was caught at mid-wicket off Stoute in the 20th over, West Indies were tottering but Powell then engineered two half-century stands to rally the innings.
The 22-year-old, who has played a single first class game, struck two fours and four sixes off 71 balls and added 62 for the sixth wicket with Ramdin and 66 for the seventh wicket with Nurse.
Powell was seventh out at 209 in the 41st over and despite Nurse’s four fours and three sixes, the Windies still came up short.
