Batsmen Mario Belcon and Isaiah Rajah both addressed the national selectors yesterday as the first practice match for the upcoming Regional Super50 series was held at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Balmain on Sunday.
The first scheduled match on Sunday was washed out after 1.2 overs and although the rain again affected the game on Tuesday, the players were still able to get in a match.
Playing for the Akeal Hosein XI, both Belcon and Rajah looked good. Belcon one of the more consistent batsmen on the domestic scene cracked a fierce 75, while Rajah looked good in compiling 62. The two added 139 runs for the second wicket as Hosein's team reached 225/6 off 43.2 overs when the rain came down. Belcon's 75 came off 86 balls with two sixes and four fours, while the elegant Rajah made 62 off 73 balls with three sixes and two fours. Yannic Carriah was on 24 not out when the rains came. The best of the bowlers for the spinner Kissoondath Magram who grabbed 4/39.
In response, Imran Khan's team was bowled out for 198 off 33.1 overs. Odean Smith the Jamaican import got 48, while Jyd Goolie got 40.
Guardian Media Sports understands that the national selectors have already sent a squad to Cricket West Indies (CWI) that was selected on Monday but they have until November 4 to make any changes to the team. The next practice match is carded for Friday at the NCC from 9.30am.
TUESDAY'S SCORES
Akeal Hosein XI 225/6 (43.1)(Mario Belcon 75, Isaiah Rajah 62, Kissoondath Magram 4/39) vs Imran Khan's XI 198 all out (33.1) (Odean Smith 48, Jyd Goolie 40, Nicolas Pooran 25, Jeremy Solozano 25, Jon Russ Jaggessar 2/15, Akeal Hosein 2/16, Jaron Alfred 2/19, Terrence Hinds 2/38) - Hosein's XI won by 28 runs.