Jason Roy made a sensational century to showcase his immense power-hitting as England’s batsmen dominated the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) President’s XI bowling attack in a warm-up match on Wednesday.
The T20 friendly served as good preparations for the visitors as they finetune plans to face two-time world champions West Indies in the Betway T20I Series. The five-match rubber will bowl off on Saturday at Kensington Oval and is being billed as “the place to be”, as fans return to the stands at the historic venue.
Roy dominated a 141-run opening stand with Tom Banton before he was out for 115 off 47 balls, an innings that formed the backbone of England’s 231-4. The home team finished on 137, actually losing 11 wickets, as they were allowed to carry on making the most of the playing time.
England were cruising in the first 10 overs as the openers made merry against the inexperienced home side. Then captain Ashley Nurse came into the attack and did a magnificent job. He slowed the scoring rate with great control and was able to extract some spin and bounce out of the flat surface. A T20 World Cup winner for West Indies in 2016, he showed immaculate control to record figures of 4-0-20-2.
Feeling the need to up the ante Banton cracked a length ball to mid-off for 32, where he was caught by Roshon Primus off Keon Harding. Nurse then stifled Roy and James Vince, with England restricted to 16 runs in the four overs following the halfway point. Roy swept Nurse into the deep where Primus motored in from deep square and dived full length to come up with another well-judged catch. The off-spinner also cleaned up Moeen Ali with a quicker, straight delivery which flattened the left-hander’s middle stump.