BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Jason Roy warmed up nicely for the five-match Twenty20 International series against West Indies at the weekend by blasting a superb hundred in England’s warm-up match here on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old struck 115 off 47 balls with nine fours and ten sixes to propel the tourists to 231 for four off their 20 overs against the Barbados Cricket Association President’s XI at Kensington Oval.
Significantly, Roy needed only 36 balls to reach triple figures before being second out in the 14th over, after putting on a sensational 114 for the first wicket with Tom Banton who made 32.
James Vince added an unbeaten 40 from 29 deliveries while captain Eoin Morgan chipped in with 22 from 13 balls.
In reply, the BCA President’s XI were dismissed for 137 from their 20 overs, with 12 players allowed to bat in order to utilise all the overs.
All-rounder Shamar Springer, the former West Indies Under-19 star, smashed 36 off 23 balls at number seven while opener Shian Brathwaite chipped in with 22 from 16 but the contributions were never going to be enough to challenge the target.
Springer inspired the best stand of the innings – 43 with Kevin Stoute (18) for the seventh wicket before skying left-arm seamer Tymal Mills (3-25) to mid-off in the 16th over.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid (2-9) and Barbados-born seamer Chris Jordan (2-22) supported with two wickets apiece.
Roy’s assault had earlier put the President’s XI under pressure before former West Indies off-spinner, Ashley Nurse, pulled things back, the captain claiming two for 20 from four controlled overs.
His first wicket was that of Roy’s, holing out in the deep and the second was that of Moeen Ali’s four balls later in the same over, bowled for one.