Experienced West Indies’ Test wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich hit an unbeaten half-century in a high-scoring, drawn Barbados Pride three-day cricket practice match at Wanderers Club, Dayrells Road which ended on Monday.
Dowrich, who will be making a return to first-class cricket when Barbados Pride host Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the opening round of the Regional 4-Day Championship at Kensington Oval, February 9-12, hit 65 not out for Kraigg Brathwaite’s team.
He struck ten fours and a six in his knock as Brathwaite’s XI made 318-6 declared in 95.1 overs with opener Shayne Moseley and Jonathan Drakes also scoring half-centuries.
Moseley made 72 with 11 fours and a six and Drakes hit fours and one six in a knock of 66 while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took three wickets for 55 runs from 25.1 overs for Jonathan Carter’s side.
Carter’s team made a strong reply, posting 393-8 declared in 91.4 overs with stylish opener Zachary McCaskie stroking 17 fours and two sixes in an impressive 130 before retiring after facing 185 balls.
The seasoned Carter hit 76 and former Barbados Under-19 top-order batsman Demetrius Richards made 58. Brathwaite’s XI reached 29-1 batting a second time.
A lot of attention will be on the diminutive Dowrich, who abruptly left West Indies’ tour of New Zealand 14 months ago for personal reasons and has not been part of the regional team’s set-up since.
Also in the 13-member squad is out-of-favour West Indies’ all-rounder Raymon Reifer, who previously represented multiple-time champions Guyana Jaguars after making his debut for Combined Campues and Colleges in 2011.
The stylish middle order batsman Drakes and swing bowler Akeem Jordan are the only selectees who are uncapped at first-class level even though both have played in the Regional Super50 Cup.
Barbados Pride squad – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican. (EZS)