England Lions v West Indians, Tour Match, New Road

Ramdin and Morton lead Windies home

Cricinfo staff

June 21, 2007

West Indians 178 for 3 (Ramdin 73, Morton 72*) beat England Lions 174 for 6 (Solanki 38, Samuels 3-16) by seven wickets
Scorecard

Denesh Ramdin works the ball past Paul Nixon during his 73 © Getty Images

Denesh Ramdin and Runako Morton were the main run-scorers, each striking rapid half-centuries as the English bowlers failed to make an impression. The pair added 130, with Ramdin hitting 73 off 52 balls after Chris Gayle had fallen early to James Anderson.

Ramdin fell to Stuart Broad with the target in sight and, although Marlon Samuels was run out for a second-ball duck, Morton finished unbeaten on 72 from 61 balls to see the chase through with Sylvester Joseph, retained for this match because of the injury problems. Anderson was the only bowler to escape major punishment, as Broad went at eight-an-over and Alex Gidman conceded 24 off two overs. The spinners, Michael Yardy and Gareth Batty, pulled the rate back marginally but the West Indians were always in control.

The English innings also had a lightening start with Will Jefferson and Vikram Solanki adding 75 for the first wicket. Using their Twenty20 experience, they exploited a weak West Indian attack after the tourists had drafted in five emergency replacements.

However, once Jefferson fell, the innings stuttered as Samuels claimed three wickets with his offspin during an economical five-over spell. Ed Joyce and Owais Shah, hoping to fill one of the vacant batting slots in the main squad, both failed to score at a run-a-ball. Gidman offered some improvement with a 32-ball 34, but the eventual total didn't stretch the West Indians.

Their next warm-up match is against Derbyshire on Sunday when they will have their full squad available, with the arrival of Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons and Austin Richards Jnr. England name their one-day squad, and new captain, on Friday morning.

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