BASSETERRE, St Kitts – Centuries from Ben McKinney and James Rew helped England Lions thrash West Indies ‘A’ by 276 runs in the second One Day International on Monday to maintain their unbeaten streak on their white-ball tour of the Caribbean.
In an unbelievable display of power hitting, McKinney bludgeoned 145 off just 65 balls with 15 fours and 10 sixes, while Rew hit an unbeaten 107 off 56 balls – his second consecutive century – to propel England to a mammoth 487 for five in 50 overs after electing to bat first at Warner Park.
West Indies ‘A’ made a promising start and were 143 for one at one stage before Eddie Jack’s five-wicket haul saw them bundled out for 211 in 30.5 overs.
The win gave the Lions a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series and left West Indies ‘A’ still searching for their first victory of the tour following a 3-0 whitewash in the preceding T20 series.
The Lions were given a speedy start by openers Thomas Rew and McKinney, with the pair putting on 30 runs in three overs.
Pacer Oshane Thomas broke the stand by having the former caught behind for 22, but from thereon it was complete domination by the visitors.
McKinney and Rehan Ahmed then shared a partnership of 158 runs in 12 overs to give the Lions the perfect launching pad.
When wrist spinner Vitel Lawes accounted for Ahmed’s wicket for 26, McKinney added a further 51 runs with captain Dan Lawrence, who made 76 off 56 balls.
Jediah Blades eventually brought McKinney’s destructive innings to an end, but James Rew and Ben Mayes, who scored an unbeaten 58 off 46 balls, shared an unbroken partnership of 166 runs in 16 overs to completely take the match away from the home side.
Lawes ended with 2-83 from his eight overs, while Blades took 2-92 from nine overs.
Alick Athanaze’s struggles continued when he was bowled by Sam Cook for just one, but half-centuries from in-form batters Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty kept the West Indies in the hunt.
McKenzie scored 67 off 64 balls at the top of the order, while Carty made 75 off 54 balls, with the pair adding 130 runs for the second wicket in 17 overs.
But once Jack removed both batters in the space of three overs to see the Windies slide to 151 for three, the middle order collapsed.
Jack also dismissed Jewel Andrew and Shaqkere Parris cheaply to put England in firm control at 166 for five in the 24th over.
Jyd Goolie made a run-a-ball 25 before retiring hurt, with Jakeem Pollard’s 11 at number nine being the only other double-digit contributor.
Jack finished with 5-42, while Mason Crane took 3-26.
CMC
Summarised scores
England Lions 487/5 (Ben McKinney 145, James Rew 107 not out, Dan Lawrence 76; Vitel Lawes 2-83, Jediah Blades 2-92) vs West Indies A 211/9 (Keacy Carty 75, Kirk McKenzie 67; Eddie Jack 5-42, Mason Crane 3-26). England Lions won by 276 runs.
