Windies on fire in warm-up
A look back at significant moments in the North’s history
TOWNSVILLE’S sporting community can dream of bigger and better things after successfully hosting its first international cricket game.
The West Indies smashed a huge total of 5/460 against Queensland Country XI in the first innings of the two-day match played at the Townsville Sports Reserve, and Country could only muster 128 in reply.
Country fared little better in the second innings after being forced to follow on, reaching 8/127 by the end of play.
Country never looked comfortable against the spin of West Indies left armer Alf Valentine, who finished the first innings with five wickets for 27 runs off 13 overs.
West Indies batsman Ken Rickards scored a mammoth 192 runs during his 331-minute spell, with a handful of his sixers leaving onlookers in awe.
World ranked batsman Frank Worrell also got among the runs, making 98 with his fluent, effortless style that charmed local spectators and heaped further misery on Country.
Apart from Mick Raymer (Toowoomba) and Peter Vallely (Townsville), Country’s bowling attack got very little assistance from the dead pitch, which was unfortunate for Raymer who turned in a marathon 23 overs in the hot sun to take three wickets for 119 runs in the first innings.
West Indies skipper John Goodard won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat on the lifeless deck.
Rickards made a classy 192-run knock in 331 minutes and hit 37 boundaries, and by the time he was dismissed – after touching a good length delivery on to his stumps – the visitors were well in charge at a comfortable 2/330.
Worrell lasted another few overs before he was run out by Toowoomba’s Tom Allen, and Country enjoyed a highlight when West Indies number four Gerry Gomez was caught behind for a duck.
Denis Atkinson was then dismissed for one, but a fine 73 from Robert Christiani and 38 from Goddard finished off an impressive batting performance by the West Indies.
Only Don Watt (Dalby) enhanced his Sheffield Shield prospects with a brave 51, but the lack of support saw Country bowled for 128 in their first innings, and they lost eight for 127 in the second after Goddard forced the follow on.
Watt top-scored for Country again with 27 in the second, but again the visitors were simply too good, with Valentine (2-33), Wilfred Ferguson (2-33) and Gomez (2-20) making the most of a powdering wicket.
It was an anti-climatic end for the first international match ever staged in North Queensland, but the overall success of the match has left fans demanding more international fixtures.
The West Indies play their first Test match against Australia starting on November 9 at The Gabba.
SCORECARD
WEST INDIES
1ST INNINGS
R. Marshall, c Watt b Raymer 51 K. Rickards, b Vallely 192 F. Worrell, run out 98
G. Gomez, c Thorpe, b Raymer 0 D. Atkinson, c and b Raymer 1 R. Christiani not out 73 J. Goddard not out 38
Sundries: 7
Total: 5/460 (declared)