JOIN USWindies win but troubles exist
West Indies’ preparations for the World Cup went from bad to worse on Thursday when minnows Scotland came up just four runs short of a famous upset in a warm-up match at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Although the islanders ultimately came up with the win by three runs, this was by no means an emphatic statement that might have reassured Caribbean cricket fans that all was well inside the camp.
Thrashed by England at the same ground in their first warm-up on Monday, the twice world champions needed a flurry of late wickets to restrict the Scots to 310 for nine in reply to the 313 for eight they posted in their 50 overs.
Opener Kyle Coetzer scored a fine 96 to fire the run-chase and Richie Berrington chipped in with 66 but the Scots could not quite find the partnership they needed at the bottom of the order to secure the victory.
Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin top scored for West Indies with an 86-ball innings of 88 after many of the bigger names in the batting line-up failed to fire. Their most potent batting weapon Chris Gayle, who was out for a duck against England, faced 12 balls for one solitary run before he was caught behind off Iain Wardlaw.
West Indies start their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Nelson on Monday, while the Scots will take on co-hosts New Zealand in Dunedin in their opener the following day. Ireland shine
Ireland set out their stall as potential giant-killers by beating Bangladesh by four wickets in their final warm-up match at Blacktown Oval on Thursday.
After the Irish won the toss and chose to bowl first, Max Sorensen (3-31) and John Mooney (3-32) took three wickets apiece as Bangladesh were dismissed for 189 in 48.2 overs.
Former England top order batsman Ed Joyce hit 47 to help set the Irish on their way before Andrew Balbirnie (63 not out) and Kevin O'Brien (23) teamed up for a sixth-wicket partnership of 41 to take them to the brink of victory.
Brief scores: At Sydney: West Indies: 313/9 in 50 overs (Dwayne Smith 45, Darren Bravo 43, Denesh Ramdin 88, Lendl Simmons 55; Alasdair Evans 3-63, Josh Davey 2-55) bt Scotland: 310/9 in 50 overs (Kyle Coetzer 96, Richie Berrington 66; Kemar Roach 2-59, Andre Russell 2-32, Suleima Benn 2-47).Bangladesh: 189 all out in 48.2 overs (Soumya Sarkar 45; John Mooney 3-32, Max Sorensen 3-31) lt to Ireland: 190/6 in 46.5 overs (Ed Joyce 47, Andy Balbirnie 63; Taijul Islam 2-29).