West Indies crushed!
The once champions of the world test and one-day arena crashed out of the ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya this past Wednesday as they were heavily defeated by the mighty Sri Lankan Lions
Zach Kenworthy
04-Oct-2000
The once champions of the world test and one-day arena crashed out of the
ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya this past Wednesday as they were heavily
defeated by the mighty Sri Lankan Lions. What is more is that West Indies
captain, Jimmy Adams didn't even take the field as he was confined to the
sidelines where he nursed a torn intercostals muscle. There is not much,
however, that even Adams could have done to prevent his team from enduring
such a drubbing from their opponents.
Upon winning the toss, West Indies' replacement captain, the Barbadian
opening batsmen, Sherwin Campbell asked his opposite number, Sanath
Jayasuria to pad up. This initially appeared to be a good call by Campbell
as pacer Mervyn Dillon made early inroads with a fiery spell that reduced
the Sri Lankans to 10 for 2, removing both the dangerous Jayasuria (2) and
the young genius Marvan Atapattu (2). However, just as West Indies felt that
this was their day Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Aviska Gunawardene (132)
smashed the West Indies' inexperienced bowling attack to pieces. Jayawardene
played the leading role as he took only 71 deliveries to amass his 72 runs
and he was ably assisted by Gunawardene who played a typically `Sri Lankan'
innings as he displayed beautiful use of the wrists and some brawny hitting.
These two blazed their way to a scintillating 160 run partnership from a
meagre 27.3 overs before Jayawardene was dismissed from the Antiguan
debutant Kerry Jeremy.
Gunawardene was the last of the Sri Lankans, dismissed in the 49th over by
Nixon McLean but not before he put together another substantial partnership
with a fellow teammate. The centurion and Russel Arnold (45 from 35 balls)
were brought together in the 35th over and ten overs later they had cruised
along to a 73 run partnership that eventually saw the Sri Lankan team to an
indisputably healthy score of 287 for 6 from their allotted 50 overs. Meryn
Dillon (2 for 46) and Nixon McLean (2 for 56) managed to claim a couple
wickets each as debutant Kerry Jeremy was slated for 54 runs off his 10
overs.
West Indies needed a score from Lara if they were going to contend in any
way whatsoever. However, the West Indies never got going and after just ten
overs the West Indies were reduced to a paltry 41 for 4. Only Jamaican
all-rounder Laurie Williams (41 from 59 balls) and Guyanese legspinner,
Mahendra Nagamootoo (31 from 61 balls) scored any runs of substance as the
West Indies were dismissed for an appalling 179 from 46.4 overs. The West
Indies failed to put together any partnerships of any importance except for
the 64 run partnership by Williams and Nagamootoo that came all too late.
It was a completely lacklustre performance by the West Indians who sported
two debutants in Jeremy and the young Jamaican batsmen Marlon Samuels
(brother of former West Indian opening bat Robert Samuels). Such
disappointment can be more than expected as the West Indies seek to rebuild
and to concretize a foundation that will take them through to the next
decade. It is frustrating for all West Indian fans but patience must be
found as our youngsters attempt to adapt to the giant leap from first-class
cricket to test cricket.
Both Kerry Jeremy and Sylvester Joseph will be returning home to take part
in the Red Stripe Bowl and will be selected for the Leeward Islands for the
Zone B matches to be held in both Anguilla and Antigua.