Bajans put Windies batsmen in a spin

HAMILTON: West Indies’ batsmen again showed that they could be the weak link during the ICC Champions’ Trophy limited-overs cricket series in Britain next month, when they struggled yesterday against a Barbados XI in a day/night limited-overs practice match. Choosing to bat, West Indies, being led by regular vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, instead of the resting Brian Lara, were limited to 133 for nine from their 50 overs in close to ideal conditions. Left-arm spin bowling, as Ashley Giles demonstrated on their recent tour of England, proved West Indies’ undoing with Sulieman Benn and Ryan Hinds equally sharing six wickets in 20 overs between them that only cost 68. Left-hander Wavell Hinds hit the top score of 27 for West Indies, but no other batsman could raise 20, although fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul was undefeated on 19.

West Indies benefited from a decent opening stand of 41 from Hinds and another left-hander Chris Gayle, but once Kurt Wilkinson —  with his modest slow medium-pace bowling —  removed them both, there was neither substance nor stability from the rest of the batting. West Indies are preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy that opens on September 10. They have been drawn in Group-B alongside South Africa and Bangladesh, who they face in their opening match on September 15 at Southampton. Barbados are using the trip to Bermuda to get in shape for the West Indies domestic limited-overs competition set to start in October.