Hope, Dowrich impress ahead of Tri-Nations

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Shai Hope and Shane Dowrich missed out on half-centuries while left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer extended his wicket-taking form as West Indies completed their final warm-up match yesterday in preparation for the Tri-Nations Series in Ireland, starting next week.

After bundling the Barbados Cricket Association XI out for a paltry 109 in the 40th over, with Reifer claiming three for 17, the Windies opted for batting practice and gathered 246 for nine off their 50 overs.

Hope struck a run-a-ball 47 with eight fours, adding 71 for the third wicket with Roston Chase (35) after the Windies found themselves slumping on nine for two in the second over, following the cheap departures of John Campbell (8) and Darren Bravo (0).

When five wickets tumbled for 54 runs, Dowrich held the lower order together with 46 off 50 balls with five fours. He posted 38 for the eighth wicket with Riefer (35) and a further 60 for the ninth with Ashley Nurse, who belted 37 from 36 balls.

West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop was the best BCA bowler with three for 30.

The match was the second in three days following Tuesday’s opener, also against the BCA XI, as part of the ongoing preparation camp at 3W’s Oval.

West Indies leave next Tuesday for the Tri-Nations Series in Ireland involving the hosts and Bangladesh and which runs from May 3-17.

The series is their final one before the ICC World Cup from May 30 to July 14 in England.