Hope leads run spree as Windies A win series

Waterhouse’s player (from left) Carlos Wright, Theo Brown and goal scorer Kemar Beckford celebrate the equaliser against Maverley-Hughenden in their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Waterhouse Stadium yesterday. KARUNEGALA, Sri Lanka (CMC): OPENER KYLE Hope stroked a sublime hundred, and Chadwick Walton, Assad Fudadin, and Rovman Powell all chimed in with half-centuries as West Indies A ran riot against Sri Lanka A to post a crushing 109-run victory in the second unofficial one-day international and clinch the three-match series here yesterday.

Opting for first knock at the Welagedara Stadium, the Caribbean side savaged the Sri Lankan bowling to pile up 347 for nine off their allotted 50 overs.

Hope carved out 109 off 110 deliveries, opening partner Walton smashed 70 from 57 balls, Fudadin chipped in with 57 from 70 balls while Powell produced a sensational late blitz with 52 off a mere 22 deliveries.

Only off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya survived the carnage to emerge with four for 54 from his nine overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka A were powered by Jayasuriya’s betterthan-run-a-ball 119 but never properly recovered from a shaky start and were dismissed for 238 in the 43rd over.

Charith Asalanka struck 44 and Dasun Shanaka 32, as Powell completed a fine allround performance when he picked up three for 44 to limit the visitors.

Fellow seamers Ronsford Beaton (2-41) and Kyle Mayers (2-54) finished with two wickets apiece.

GREAT OPENING STAND

Energised from their 165-run victory in the opening game on Tuesday, West Indies produced a magnificent start when Hope and Walton put on 111 off 109 deliveries for the first wicket.

Both right-handers, Hope counted 10 fours and four sixes while Walton bludgeoned 11 fours and two sixes in a rapid innings.

Walton belted three fours in the second over of the day bowled by seamer Keshan Wijerathne, and he and Hope then combined to take 18 from the next over from the rightarmer, the fourth of the innings.

Jamaican Walton raised his half-century off 47 deliveries before celebrating with three back-to-back boundaries off off-spinner Danushka Gunathilaka in the bowler’s second over, which leaked 12 runs.

The third and final game starts on Sunday.