Morton and Ramdin see WI home

Despite missing virtually their entire bowling attack through injury, a makeshift West Indies side put a poor Test series behind them as they opened up their limited overs campaign with a confident seven-wicket victory over England Lions at New Road, Worcester. Patchy rain both overnight and throughout the morning led to a reduced 24-overs-a-side match, in which the tourists cruised home with ease, chasing down a target of 175 with five balls to spare.

After captain Chris Gayle fell early on to James Anderson, Denesh Ramdin (promoted to open) and Runako Morton both hit half-centuries to seal the West Indies’ first win of the tour, which has already seen them lost the Test series 3-0. Coming together at 23-1, the pair put England’s second string attack to the sword, hitting three sixes apiece in a stand of 130. Stuart Broad went for eight runs an over, while Alex Gidman conceded 24 from two. Ramdin was eventually dismissed for a 52-ball 73 off Broad, but by then the result was a formality, even if Marlon Samuels was run out for a duck two balls later. Morton finished unbeaten on 72 from 61 deliveries, supported by Sylvester Joseph who made nine not out.

Earlier, the Lions had cobbled together 174-6 from their 24 overs, with all of the top six making double figures – but no-one passing Vikram Solanki’s 38. Against an attack that contained the unknown quantities of Alan Richardson, Esuan Crandon and Ruel Brathwaite (all plucked from local club or university cricket, along with Mali Richards, son of Viv), the more experienced England batsmen should have produced more. Instead they found themselves pegged back by Samuels’ darting off-breaks, which accounted for Solanki and Will Jefferson – both when well set after an opening stand of 75 – and later for number three Ed Joyce to give him figures of 5-0-16-3.

The West Indies, soon to be replenished by the arrival of ODI specialists Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons and Austin Richards jnr from the Caribbean, continue their warmup fixtures against Derbyshire on Sunday.

England Lions 174-6 (24 overs)
Will Jefferson 36, Vikram Solanki 38, Alex Gidman 34
Marlon Samuels 3-16

West Indians 178-3 (23.1 overs)
Denesh Ramdin 73, Runako Morton 72*

West Indies won by 7 wickets