Kelly, ‘Tadpole’ restrict England ‘A’

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Solanki hit a splendid 86 while Read scored a fluent 78, as they staged a recovery in a sixth-wicket stand of 121 that rescued England "A" from 127 for five.

Separate three-wicket bursts by Trinidadians, left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed and fast medium-pacer Richard Kelly, had threatened to give the home side the advantage but an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand of 37 between Gareth Batty (30 not out) and Alex Wharf (nine not out), restored the initiative to England "A".

But it could have been a different story had the Windies "A" team players taken five catches that went a begging.

Before a crowd of about 300 spectators comprising mostly school children, who were let in free, and English tourists, Windies "A" made a good start when pacer Tino Best and Kelly removed openers Cook (6) and Michael Yardy (16) within the first 45 minutes to leave the visitors on 52 for two.

Best had Cook caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh after the batsman’s attempted hook came off the back of the bat while Kelly, who came on first change, trapped Yardy leg-before-wicket.

Owais Shaw, who was dropped at third slip by Dale Richards before he scored, went on to hit an attractive 45 off 41 balls with seven fours and added 47 for the third wicket with Solanki, a partnership which saw England "A" to lunch on 109 for three.

After the interval, Mohammed struck twice in quick succession, firstly removing Shah to a slip catch by captain Sylvester Joseph as he attempted to drive a delivery wide of off-stump. Mohammed then induced the unsettled Alex Loudon (5) into a lofted drive which he snatched in a splendid one-handed effort.

But Solanki, who was stroking the ball well, found a more than useful ally in Chris Read, the ex-Test player, and they repaired the damage with their priceless stand.

Solanki and Read both brought up their half-centuries with off-driven sixes off Mohammed as the Windies "A" bowlers toiled in the afternoon session for success. At tea, England "A" were 228 for five with Solanki, who was dropped twice by part-time off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine in the same over, on 77, and Read on 59. But after the break, Kelly, who was surprisingly left out of the attack between lunch and tea, prised out three batsmen to bring the hosts back into the contest.

The burly seamer ended the sixth-wicket partnership when Solanki drove a regulation catch to Mohammed at short extra-cover, after he had batted for 216 minutes, faced 201 balls and struck 10 fours and a six.

Kelly then deceived Read with a slower ball which the batsman flicked to mid-wicket, ending his 137-minute stay at the crease where he faced 109 balls and hit 12 fours and a six.

From 248 for six, the visitors slipped to 267 for eight when Kelly bowled Kabir Ali (5), who came into the team to replace fast bowler James Anderson, who along with Cook, was put on standby for the injury-hit senior team currently in India.

But any hopes the Windies "A" had of wrapping up the tail were dashed as Batty, who survived a dropped chance by Marlon Samuel when 18, and Wharf, defied them admirably. Not even the new ball, which was taken with one over to go, could remove them.

Kelly has so far taken four for 78 from 14 overs and Mohammed, three for 93 from 27 overs. Windies "A" left out the flu-stricken Ryan Hinds and pacer Andrew Richardson from their 13.

Cook and Anderson were due to return to London last night and remain at Gatwick until the injuries of the players on the Indian tour were assessed. All-rounder Rikki Clarke has replaced Cook in the England "A" side.