Morton puts WI in charge

The 28-year old, who has played four Tests for the senior side, hit 105 as the visitors were dismissed for 364 in reply to Durham’s first innings of 310 on Friday.

At the close, pacer Andrew Richardson had claimed the wicket of Gary Scott, caught at the wicket for two, to leave Durham fluttering at 30 for one.

Earlier, Morton had taken control for West Indies “A” after they lost captain Sylvester Joseph early in the morning, to slip to 28 for three after resuming at their overnight 24 for two.

With just four runs added, Joseph fell to a catch at the wicket off England’s Liam Plunkett for four as Durham took control of the match.

But Morton, unbeaten on five overnight, proceeded to dominate the Durham attack, striking 14 fours and two sixes and facing 168 balls in an innings lasting 251 minutes.

He shared three successive half-century stands to put the West Indies ‘A’ innings back on course as he found support from Ryan Hinds (27), Dwayne Smith (66) and Patrick Browne (55 not out).

Morton, who failed to get a look-in in the recent Test series against India, first shared a crucial fourth wicket stand of 61 with left-hander Hinds whose 27 came from 50 balls with five fours, before he became the first of medium pacer Neil Killeen two wickets in the innings, bowled with the score on 89.

Morton found a partner in the aggressive Dwayne Smith and the duo added a further 110 for the fifth in quick time, with the right-handed Smith smashing his 66 from just 60 balls.

Smith spectacularly blasted nine fours and three sixes before Killeen breached his defence to leave Windies “A” at 199 for four.

Morton then shared his third successive half-century partnership when he combined in a stand of 65 for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper/batsman Patrick Browne.

The right-handed Browne’s unbeaten 55 came from 114 balls in 164 minutes, containing nine fours.

Morton’s dismissal with the score on 264 triggered a mini-collapse with three wickets falling for the addition of only seven runs.

But Powell provided wonderful rearguard action for the Windies, hammering a cavalier 62 from 61 balls, with nine fours and three sixes, to steer the visitors past their target.

The Powell/Browne stand yielded 93 for the ninth wicket and by the time fast bowler Graeme Onions had Powell caught at the wicket, Windies “A” had forged a lead of 54.

Onions finished with three for 65 while Plunkett (two for 24), Killeen (two for 55) and Moneeb Iqbal (two for 83) finished with two apiece. (CMC)