Samuels, Lewis deliver for Windies
Both Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels found form in time for the all-important Super Sixes, stroking half-centuries as West Indies beat the Netherlands by 54 runs under Duckworth/Lewis to end the preliminaries of the ICC World Cup qualifiers unbeaten yesterday.
Short of runs for the tournament, Lewis top-scored with 84 and Samuels, an unbeaten, 73, as West Indies piled up 309 for six in a contest reduced to 48 overs per side at the Harare Sports Club.
Rovman Powell followed up his maiden hundred against Ireland with a cameo 52, while veteran opener Chris Gayle struck 46.
Faced with a mountain of a run chase, Ryan ten Doeschate lashed 67 and Wesley Barresi, 64, but Netherlands found themselves on 167 for six and short of the required par score, when the rains arrived in the 29th over.
West Indies will now carry four points into the Super Sixes stage, where they face a tricky clash with Afghanistan in their opening fixture on Thursday at Harare Sports Club.
Chasing a clean sweep of their preliminary campaign, the Windies were given a strong start by the left-handed pair of Lewis and Gayle, who put on a rollicking 85 off 51 balls for the first wicket, after being sent in.
HALF-DOZEN FOURS
Lewis faced 92 balls and struck half-dozen fours and four sixes, while Gayle blasted a pair of fours and five sixes in a 31-ball appearance.
Gayle appeared set for his 49th ODI halfcentury when he mistimed a stroke of seamer Paul van Meekeren (2-37) and holed out to Roelof van der Merwe running around from mid-off.
Lewis then anchored two small partnerships, putting on 38 for the second wicket
Waterhouse’s left full back Ricardo ‘Indian’ Thomas was full of praise for his coach Donovan Duckie, after a first call-up to the national senior team training camp which starts today at the UWI/JFF/Captain Burrell Centre of Excellence. Thomas was named in a 22-man local squad for the training camp in preparation for an international friendly game against Antigua and Barbuda at Sabina Park in Kingston on Sunday, March 25, starting at 5 p.m. The 20-year-old, who is in his second season in the Red Stripe Premier League, recounted that he was surprised on hearing the news a week ago. “My teammates and coach, we have a WhatsApp group and I saw it there, and was a bit surprised. I saw it last week Monday,” Thomas told STAR Sports. “Since coach (Donovan Duckie) came back to Waterhouse last November, he showed belief in my ability to play the game. He motivates me a lot. Even before the national call-up, he always said that my ball game is not for Jamaica, but abroad. He likes my speed, how I tackle and my reading of the ball game,” Thomas shared.
After crossing the Washington Boulevard from Maverley/Hughenden, where he made his debut in the nation’s top flight last season, Thomas went to Waterhouse hoping for better things.
“The experience I got playing for Maverley/Hughenden in my first Premier League season was great. It did a lot for me. I moved on to Waterhouse to do better,” he said.
Although small in size, Thomas is highly motivated by former national defenders Demar ‘Peel Head’ Phillips and Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, as both players played in similar position and went on to outstanding careers as professionals.
“My plan is to stay focussed and work hard as it is a training camp. They (Phillips and Gardner) motivate me a lot because football is not about size, but guts and desire to be a man out there,” Thomas pointed out.
“I know that other people are watching the Premier League because it is shown in other countries. I will continue the hard work and hope it pays off. I am playing well for the club and now getting selected for the training camp and this could lead to a contract overseas,” he said.
“I am really looking forward to the camp. I know that my teammates Shawn Lawes and Cardel Benbow will be there to help me along,” he concluded. with Shimron Hetmyer (10) and another 41 for the third with Samuels.
Three wickets fell for 41 runs to leave the Windies on 205 for five in the 36th over, but Samuels and Powell posted 99 from 69 deliveries for the sixth wicket to re-energise the innings.
While Samuels faced 84 balls and counted five fours, his fellow Jamaican Powell needed a mere 38 balls for his knock, slamming two fours and three sixes.
Netherlands, needing to win to stay in the competition, were quickly in trouble when they lost two early wickets to slump to 29 for two in the seventh over.
Scott Edwards fell in the sixth over for one, run out after being sent back by Barresi following a mix up over a single.
And in the following over, seamer Kemar Roach removed Ben Cooper’s offstump as the left-hander missed a booming drive for two.