Marlon Samuels
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):
WEST INDIES A, propelled by centuries from captain Sylvester Joseph and Marlon Samuels, pulled off a narrow nail-biting one-wicket win over England A on the fourth and final day of their first unofficial Test match at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Last man Jermaine Lawson drove a full toss from medium-pacer Rikki Clarke to the extra-cover boundary to take the Windies A to 366 for nine before he and Carlton Baugh (42 not out) were engulfed by their teammates, who rushed from the dressing room to wildly celebrate the triumph.
LATE RALLY
England A, who had set the home side a challenging 365 to win on the third evening on Sunday, almost snatched victory with a late rally as they fought back strongly to leave the game intriguingly poised at 351 for nine after a dramatic three-wicket burst.
The home side had been coasting toward victory at 348 for six, but rapidly lost three wickets for the addition of just three runs and the game appeared to be slipping from their grasp.
A stand of 194 for the fifth wicket between Joseph, who scored a brilliant 106 in recording his seventh first-class century, and Samuels, who slammed a majestic 118, had set the home side's victory charge. But both needlessly gifted their wickets and England A seized the initiative to bowl themselves back into the game as
pacer Sajid Mahmood took two wickets in three balls to leave the Windies A wobbling at 348 for eight.
SENSELESSLY RUN OUT
This after, the hard-hitting Richard Kelly, who slammed 22 from 20 balls and Baugh had taken their side to within 17 runs of victory with four wickets standing. But when Tino Best (6), who was rattled by Clarke's heckling when he came to the crease, was senselessly run out going for a non-existent single, it appeared as if the visitors would clinch a thrilling win. But luckily for the Windies A, Lawson, who managed to dig out a vicious yorker by Clarke and a close run out attempt, accepted a run offered by Baugh before he crashed the last ball of what turned out to be the last over to secure the win.
