MOLINEUX-Adam Lyth and Ravi Bopara both hit half-centuries on the final day of the two-day tour match against St Kitts and Nevis, as England Lions' batsmen continued to warm-up nicely for their campaign in the Regional First Class Championship starting next week.The 23-year-old Lyth carved out a solid unbeaten 72 while Bopara hit a dazzling 57 from 67 balls, as the Lions tallied 175 for two in their second innings at the Edgar Gilbert Sporting Complex on Saturday.
Earlier, left-arm slow bowler Danny Briggs (3–27) and fast bowler Liam Plunkett (3–31) also got valuable preparation as St Kitts and Nevis were knocked over for a paltry 89, responding to the Lions' first innings of 277.Resuming from four without loss, only 20-year-old shot-maker Kieran Powell with a defiant 34 from 89 balls showed any resistance to the Lions attack.In their second turn at the crease, the visitors got a stand of 85 for the first wicket from Lyth and James Adam (34) to deny St Kitts and Nevis any early success.
Lyth hit three fours and a six off 147 balls in an innings that lasted 166 minutes while Adam also stroked three fours and a six off 55 balls.When Adam fell, Lyth put on another 90 for the second wicket with Bopara who had earlier taken two for ten with his slow medium pace.England Lions started a second two-day tour game against St Kitts and Nevis starting yesterday, as they continued their preparation for their opening game of the Regional First Class Championship against Leeward Islands starting Friday. (AP)
SCOREBOARD
St Kitts & Nevis vs England Lions
ENGLAND LIONS 1st Inns 277
ST KITTS & NEVIS 1st Inns (o/n 4-0)
S Jeffers c Lyth b Plunkett 10
K Powell b Briggs 34
C Smith c Chambers b Plunkett 2
S Libird c Bairstow b Bopara 0
T Willet run out 6
A Saunders b Bopara 0
K Tyson run out 15
J Phillip c Hildreth b Plunkett 2
J Campbell not out 3
C Williams c Stokes b Briggs 11
I Byron b Briggs 0
Extras (b1, lb2, nb3) 6
TOTAL (47.4 overs, all out) 89
Fall of wickets: 1–22, 2–26, 3–28, 4–35, 5–35, 6–71, 7–74, 8–75, 9–89, 10–89.
Bowling: Plunkett 16–5–31–3, Harris 9–6–7–0, Bopara 6–2–10–2, Chambers 7–0–21–0, Briggs 9.4–2–17–3.
ENGLAND LIONS 2nd Inns
A Lyth not out 72
J Adam c Liburd b Campbell 34
R Bopara c Jeffers b Liburd 57
Extras (b8, lb2, nb1, w1) 12
TOTAL (45 overs, 2 wkts) 175
Fall of wickets: 1–85, 2–175.
Bowling: Williams 5–0–19–0, Byron 9–1–26–0, Campbell 9–0–35–1, Liburd 14–1–56–1, Powell 2–0–6–0, Jeffers 6–1–23–0.
Result: Match drawn.
Toss: England Lions.
Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Wycliffe Mitcham.
