Off-spinner Bryan Charles impressed with three wickets for the Cricket West Indies President’s XI against England on the opening day of the four-day tour match on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first, the visitors ended on 251-4 at Coolidge Cricket Ground, thanks to by half-centuries from openers Alex Lees (65) and Zak Crawley (62), and captain Joe Root who made 54. Dan Lawrence was unbeaten at the close on 46 but the Ben Stokes fell cheaply, caught at slip by Alick Athanaze off the impressive Charles who ended with 3-88 from 30 overs.
Full scoreboard here: https://www.totalcricketscorer.com/TCSLive/TCSScorecard.aspx?id=80201
Speaking after the day’s play, Charles said initially he struggled to find his rhythm but settled into a groove and was able to bowl with more control, which led to the three crucial wickets.
“I felt I bowled quite well, and I’m pleased with the three wickets which I managed to get today. At first, I wasn’t able to maintain my line but after I came back I had more control and felt more comfortable and at ease. The ball was coming out nicely and that helped me to relax,” he said. “We still have some work to do tomorrow, the key will be to build pressure and hopefully that will lead to the wickets.”
Lees and Crawley put on 88 for the first wicket to ensure the hosts went wicket-less in the first session. The left-handed Les struck six-dozen fours and a six in a knock which came off 214 balls in just five hours. Crawley faced 106 balls in just over 2-¼ hours and hit 11 fours in a fluent knock that saw him unbeaten on 52 at lunch with England on 65 without loss.
Charles accounted for both openers, first claiming Crawley in the seventh over after the resumption bowled through the gate, and then removing Lees in the final session, bowled around his legs after missing a sweep. However, Lees’s dismissal came only after he combined with Root to post 98 for the second wicket, a partnership which guided England to tea on 153-1.
Root, who faced 105 balls in a shade over 2-¼ hours and counted five fours, fell 19 balls before Lee, spectacularly yorked by fast bowler Shermon Lewis. Lawrence added 40 for the fourth wicket with, Stokes who edged to slip.
Play resumes on Wednesday at 10 am (9 am Jamaica Time).