Dillon, Windwards Thomas escape death

TRINIDAD and Tobago and West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon and fellow Windward Island  fast bowler Fernix Thomas escaped death by lightning which struck them during  their Red Stripe Bowl match at Kensington Park, Jamaica, yesterday. At the start of the  Trinidad and Tobago innings 39th over and with the total on 144 for seven wickets, and in brilliant sunshine, out of the blue came an explosive clap of thunder accompanied by lightning. Dillon, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident, complained of severe headache and earache. Thomas experienced severe burning to the back of his neck and headache. Both players claimed they were feeling better as  they left the ground,  but were still rushed to the hospital for examination and will remain there for 24 hours.
  
Trinidad and Tobago manager Omar Khan confirmed to Newsday from the cricket ground: “After being struck, Dillon felt dizzy and weak and was taken away to the UWI Mona Campus hospital. “He is okay but the routine is to keep a patient struck by lightning for 24 hours under observation as a precautionary measure. “We are hopeful that everything will be alright with him and that he can re-join the team for the rest of the series.” UWI Mona Hospital authorities reported both players were in good condition. Meanwhile Trinidad and Tobago are now assured of a semi-final place after the match was washed out. Trinidad and Tobago continued their innings and closed on 198 for seven off their 50 overs, after a brilliant unbeaten 103 from Shazam Babwah and Dinanath Ramnarine contributed  a determined 25 not out. Babwah batting at No. 7 struck seven fours and four sixes off 99 balls in his explosive innings to help Trinidad and Tobago recover from the treachery of 47 for seven. Babwah shared 64 for the eighth wicket with Mervyn Dillon before the West Indies fast bowler retired hurt on 16. But heavy rains which fell  during the lunch interval prevented the Windwards from starting their reply.

Scoreboard:
TT vs WINDWARD IS.
TT inns:
I Jan c Jackson b Peters 12
A Jackson c Currency b Thomas 3
D Ganga c Murray b Cuffy 0
B Lara c Currency b Sammy 13
D Bravo c Lewis b Sammy 1
A Kanhai b Sammy 0
S Babwah not out 103
D Mohammed b Sammy 0
M Dillon retired hurt 16
D Ramnarine not out 25
EXTRAS (LB2, W12, NB11) 25
Total for seven wickets (50 overs) 198
Did not bat: T Modeste.
Fall of wickets: 7; 8; 35; 43; 43; 44; 47.
BOWLING: Cuffy 10-0-47-1 (NB2, W7); Thomas 9-1-33-1 (NB6, W1); Peters 10-2-12-1 (NB1); Sammy 10-0-44-4 (W2); Jackson 3-1-12-0 (NB2, W2); Lewis 8-0-48-0.
Windward Islands: D Smith, R Currency, A LaFuille, J Eugene, J Murray, D Sammy, R Lewis (capt), O Jackson, F Thomas, K Peters, C Cuffy.
No result:  TT 2 pts; WINDWARDS 2 PTS.