CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – England’s bowlers brutally exposed the frailty of the CWI President XI’s batting here yesterday, as the opening two-day tour match finished in a farcical draw at the 3W’s Oval here.
Responding to the visitors’ 317 on day one, the President’s XI crumbled for 128 as seamers Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Sam Curran scythed through the innings.
Left-hander Vishaul Singh resisted with 35 and captain Jahmar Hamilton got 25, but Raymon Reifer (17) and tail-ender Bryan Charles (13) were the only others to reach double figures.
Once the innings folded just before the scheduled tea break, the President’s XI were allowed to continue batting, and lost another nine wickets in adding a further 75 runs in an extended first innings.
More worryingly, West Indies’ latest batting recruit John Campbell, failed to spend any time at the crease in any of his two appearances. He faced 14 balls for his one and was run out, also for one, after spending just seven balls at the crease when he returned for his second stint.
Vishaul Singh was the only batsman to show any resistance the second time around, hitting 25.
Earlier, England’s seamers swept aside the President’s XI top order, to leave the hosts tottering on 64 for five at lunch.
Campbell perished in the morning’s third over, nicking a tentative drive at Anderson behind and Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood following in the next over, caught at gully for two off Curran.
Left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj played back to Anderson and was lbw for three in the seventh over at 11 for three and with two runs added, Sunil Ambris (5) was squared up by Curran and caught behind.
Singh then steadied the innings, albeit temporarily, putting on 33 for the fifth wicket with Hamilton, 25 for the sixth wicket with Devon Thomas (4) and a further 35 for the seventh with Reifer.
All told, Singh faced 125 balls in just over 2-½ hours and counted five fours.
Anderson and Broad finished the day with four wickets apiece while Curran claimed a brace.
A second two-day match is carded for the same venue starting today.
