da pinnacle： Flashing blades and crashing stumps were the order of the day as West Indies A took total control of their three-day match with Warwickshire atEdgbaston
Sean Beynon21-Jul-2002Flashing blades and crashing stumps were the order of the day as West Indies A took total control of their three-day match with Warwickshire atEdgbaston.Daren Ganga hit a century before Marlon Black ripped the heart out ofWarwickshire’s top order with three wickets in his first two overs. Afterdeclaring on 358/3, Black struck three times in his opening two overs. Somesolid hitting from Dougie Brown allowed Warwickshire skipper Michael Powellto declare on 123/6 in a desperate and commendable search for a result.The visitors’ second innings got off to the worse possible start, with NickCarter removing makeshift openers Donovan Pagon and Lendl Simmons cheaply.Positive batting from Ryan Hinds (31) and Gareth Breese (28 not out) tookthe West Indians to 72/3 at stumps, a lead of 307.Black’s demolition job began when he clean bowled Powell from the first ballof the innings. Mark Wagh and Dominic Ostler soon followed, both bowled forducks as the sound of falling timber echoed around Edgbaston.Pacer Darren Powell removed the stubborn James Troughton to leave the homeside reeling on 21/4. Brown’s belligerent 65 from just 79 balls was theperfect tonic, as the former England international chanced his arm in searchof quick runs.Earlier, Ganga had resumed in excellent form. The West Indian captain wasovershadowed somewhat though, as 18-year-old Dwayne Bravo smashed 51, addingseven blistering boundaries after an uncharacteristically cautious start onday one. The young Trinidadian was dismissed by the spin of James Spires,following a 113 run stand for the second wicket.Runako Morton signalled his intentions early. He plays with fantastic flair,and latched onto Spires and the gentle off-spin of Mark Wagh. Theright-hander, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Monday, scores themajority of his runs in boundaries, and did not disappoint a small Edgbastoncrowd.At the other end, Ganga’s 18th four bought his first century on tour. In thesame over, Morton launched Spires away to complete his half century. Theraid became a blitzkrieg, as the pair added 138 in less than an hour and ahalf. Morton eventually went, caught and bowled by Alan Richardson – who wasagain the pick of the bowlers – for 79. He faced only 91 balls, hitting 11fours and a six.Hinds joined Ganga, hitting a quick unbeaten 19 before the declaration.Ganga’s undefeated 131 came from 224 balls, with 20 fours and two sixes. TheWest Indians had scored at over four and a half runs an over, opening up thepossibility of a result.