Struggle for Windward Is

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 24

Struggle for Windward Is

NZPA-Reuter Kingstown, St Vincent

The left-arm spinner, Phil Edmonds, made the Windward Islands struggle on the second day of the England cricketers’ opening tour match in the Caribbean yesterday.

At tea the Windward Islands was 107 for four, Edmonds having taken two for 26 in 18 overs after lunch. England made 186 on the opening day of the four-day game. The fast bowlers, Neil Foster and Greg Thomas, were the other successful bowlers. Thomas had the top scorer, Julian Charles, superbly caught at first slip by Mike Gatting for 30 just before tea.

Edmonds troubled all the batsmen with his variation of flight and pace when the Windwards resumed at one for 39 after lunch.

He had Linton Lewis caught behind for three, and then he drew opener, Ignatius Cadette, forward to be stumped by Paul Downton for 17. Play started 45 minutes late because of overnight rain. In a restricted morning session England’s only success was the wicket of Lance John, lbw to Foster after putting on 28 for the first wicket with Cadette. The Windward Islands was 107 for four.

The previous day England was dismissed in its first innings for 186. Only the captain, Gatting, 78, and the opener Graham Gooch, 27, managed to cope with the bowling on a slow pitch. The medium pacer, Desmond Collymore, took a career-best five wickets for 34 runs.

The brightest spot of the England innings was a fifth wicket partnership between Gatting and Peter Willey, 16, of 58 runs in 65 minutes after England had made 63 for four.

The poor performance of England, dismissed almost at the close of play, came against one of the lowpt-placed teams in the Caribbean region.