Ambris Century Leads Windies to a Draw with BCCI XI

VADODARA, Gujarat – The West Indies Senior Men’s Team drew their two-day warm-up match against a BCCI President’s XI at the Reliance Cricket Stadium in Vadodara, which saw fearless batting from Sunil Ambris who struck a brilliant centuty and half centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich.

The WINDIES batsmen took to the crease on another day of high humidity. Going after the BCCI XI’s first innings total of 360/6. Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell started a patient innings in chasing the total. The pair batted sensibly in the opening overs, drawing out the singles and two’s when they could. Then in the twenty-fourth over Kieran Powell started the attack, taking 2 sixes from the over.

Brathwaite then joined Powell in attacking the bowlers, taking 9-fours of his own, to reach his half-century. Powell added 2-fours to the 2-sixes on his way to 44. The WINDIES went to lunch on 96/0, on resumption, both batsmen retired. This saw Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer coming to the crease. Hetmyer struck 1-six on his way to 7 runs before he was caught and bowled by Smit Patel. New batsman Roston Chase didn’t last any longer than his teammate, he fell LBW to Avesh Khan for 5.

Hope was joined by Shane Dowrich and the pair went about the target with fearless batting. Dowrich dissected the BCCI XI’s field, on his way to striking nine boundaries and a six. While Hope provided the support that Dowrich needed in going after the runs. This partnership added 99 runs before Dowrich fell for a well-played 65.

Making a return to the WINDIES Senior Men’s team, Sunil Ambris was eager to make up for lost time. He instantly started going after the bowlers, not caring if it was spin or seam. Hope stuck around with him, adding a few runs before he fell for 36. Jahmar Hamilton then joined Ambris and the pair added a further 50 runs before Hamilton fell for a supportive 23, inclusive of 4-fours. Ambris soldiered on as wickets were falling at the other end. Keemo Paul fell in the very next ball after Hamilton for 0.

Jomel Warrican struck 9 runs before Saurabh Kumar accounted for his wicket, caught by Bawne. Ambris then found an able partner to stick with him in newcomer Shermon Lewis. Lewis defended in addition to getting 8-runs to his name, as he ensured that Ambris got the runs. Ambris struck 17-fours and 5-sixes on his way to 114 not out, guiding the WINDIES to 366/7 in 89 of the 90 allotted overs. Players and Umpires shook hands, ending the 2-day match in a draw.

Speaking at the end of the match, Kraigg Brathwaite who captained the WINDIES said “I thought the pitch was really good and I know the team enjoyed playing here. We’ve used this match to get a game in Indian conditions before the start of the first Test on Thursday in Rajkot. We now have to carry forward the positives we’ve identified from this match and I’m sure it’ll serve us well in the first Test.”

The first test match versus India will be played from October 4th to 8th.

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