VINODE MAMCHAN
vinode.mamchan@guardian.co.tt
Windies batsman Marlon Samuels immediately sent a note to the Windies selectors by scoring a century in the opening match of the CWI Super50 series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba against Canada.
Leading the Windies B, Samuels smashed 101 to lead them to 302/8 after 50 overs. The right-hander looked superb in counting his century off 96 balls with 10 fours and four sixes. Also showing form was local player Yannic Carriah who made 78 runs off 83 balls with four fours and four sixes.
Earlier on in the innings, opener Kimani Melius looked in fine touch with a classy 46 to lead the early going. The right-hander from St. Lucia faced 47 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. The Canadians were left to get 302 for victory and started well reaching 82/1 after 12 overs up to press time.
Across at the Queen’s Park Oval, rain affected the start of the clash between the powerful T&T Red Force and the defending champions the Windward Islands.
Red Force after 28 overs was 129/6 in a 37-over game up to press time. Red Force lost the early wickets of Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis and the Windwards always kept them in check after that early burst.
It took a very responsible innings of 56 runs not out from the left-handed Nicholas Pooran to keep the Red Force in the contest.