England humble Carib Beer XI for 129

CAVE HILL: England took control of their three-day match against the Carib Beer XI yesterday, dismissing the aspiring young West Indies players for 129 by tea and then reaching 121 for three before the close of the first day at the Three Ws Oval. England’s varied bowling exposed the home team’s inexperience before its batsmen carried the team to within eight runs of the lead. Five players who did not play in England’s victorious two Tests against the West Indies had a chance to play in the two-month tour, while left-hand opener Marcus Trescothick made his highest score of the tour so far with a scratchy 50 in two hours 40 minutes.

He had managed only 18 runs total in the two previous Tests. Matthew Hoggard, bowling a good pace and swinging the ball in the bright, breezy conditions, was England’s leading wicket-taker with four for 27. Fast bowler James Anderson and medium-pacer Ricki Clarke, neither of whom has played in the Tests, claimed two wickets each while left-arm spinner Ashley Giles had the other two for 25 from his 15 overs. Only Sylvester Joseph, the 25-year-old Antiguan who has represented the West Indies in One-Day Internationals, and captain and opening batsman Daren Ganga, who has had 28 Tests,  offered any resistance for the home team.

Joseph made 36 before he fell to Clarke, and Ganga had 25 before becoming the first of Anderson’s three victims in a spell costing just 12 runs. England then went to bat, but luck ran out for Trescothick as he was caught by wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin off Jermaine Lawson at two. He had two chances in the same over at 37 from  off-spinner Omari Banks, who eventually bowled him round his legs, sweeping, for 50. Mark Butcher was the first to go, caught at square-leg hooking tall fast bowler Dwight Washington for 17. Paul Collingwood was deceived by left-arm wrist spinner Dave Mohammed and stumped for 20.