CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – Sunil Ambris kept his name on the lips of selectors with a brilliant 94 against England, on the final day of the drawn two-day tour match here Friday.
The 25-year-old was overlooked for the upcoming Test series against the English, with selectors opting for uncapped 30-year-old Shamarh Brooks.
However, Ambris was the only one to shine in another chastening outing for CWI President’s XI, as the hosts were dismissed for 202 in reply to England’s first day 379.
Opener Chandrapaul Hemraj was the only other batsman to pass 20, scoring 22.
Batting at number four, Ambris arrived at the crease with the President’s XI tottering on one run for two wickets, after seamer Stuart Broad (2-33) trapped Devon Thomas lbw without scoring with the first ball of the day and Jermaine Blackwood followed in the next over lbw to pacer Sam Curran for one.
Ambris’ innings lasted 131 balls and included 11 boundaries.
Importantly, he added 52 for the third wicket with Hemraj and a further 52 for the fifth wicket with Vishaul Singh who made 16.
Unbeaten on 59 off 73 balls at lunch with the President’s XI on 99 for four, Ambris eventually departed in the second session, lbw to Chris Woakes (3-31).
His departure at 155 triggered the final slide that saw the last five wickets going down for 47 runs.
Ambris has had a rough start to his international career, playing six Tests – all away from home – with little success.
The match was the final warm-up before the opening Test against West Indies starting Wednesday at Kensington Oval.