Windies win warm-up by 29 runs

ARUNDEL: The West Indies warmed up for next week’s first Test at Lord’s with a 29-run win against an MCC side at Arundel yesterday. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing. After a major lower-order collapse in the morning, in which the West Indians were all out for 157, MCC then overcame a sticky start to make captain Brian Lara sweat on the result before they were all out for 248 in the evening of the third and final day.

Resuming on 115 for five, the West Indians lost their last five wickets for only 42 runs in less than 10 overs. However, their low second-innings total proved to be enough, despite half-centuries from Alastair Cook and John Stephenson, and a cameo 25 from Matthew Hoggard at number 10. Charl Willoughby, who has played two Tests and three one-dayers for South Africa, took three of the wickets to fall at the start, while Hoggard and Simon Jones completed their way back to fitness with one a piece. Hoggard finished with figures of 4/58 — and match figures of 8/90 — as only three West Indians made it into double figures.

Chris Gayle and Lara were the overnight batsman, and they started brightly until Lara inside-edged an inswinger from Hoggard behind to Riki Wessels, the wicketkeeper, for 43. That opened the floodgates with the last four wickets tumbling for only three runs. Omari Banks was cleaned bowled by Willoughby trying to mow one over mid-wicket, and Jones then got rid of Gayle for 84 with his first ball of the morning. Gayle pulled Jones and Michael Powell took the catch at deep square leg. Willoughby then polished off the innings with the wickets of Fidel Edwards, caught by Stephenson at mid-on, and Jermaine Lawson, trapped LBW for two.

That set MCC 278 to win, and Pedro Collins immediately pegged them back with three quick wickets. He had Sven Koenig caught behind, removed Powell leg before for a duck, and took the big scalp of Graham Thorpe, caught by Lara at first slip for four. However, it was Cook and Stephenson, the youngest and the oldest members of the side who stopped the rot with a stand of 74. Cook, aged 19 and playing in his first full first-class season, scored an impressive 89 with 13 fours before he was caught behind by Carlton Baugh off Banks’ off-spin.