HOW"SZAAT!!: An excited fast bowler Darren Powell launches a successful appeal to dismiss Brenton Parchment lbw for nine on the first day of a The Busta Cup trial match at Sabina Park yesterday. - Junior DowieTHERE was a scare yesterday for West Indies batsman Ricardo Powell on the first day of the third trial match to select the country's Busta Cup team at Sabina Park.
The 21-year-old middle order batsman who is due to leave the island on December 30 to join the West Indies team for the triangular one-day series was hit on the arm by pacer Darren Powell.
Ricardo Powell came to the wicket in the midst of a fiery spell by Darren Powell and was struck on the left wrist as he failed to pick up the line of a full toss.
There was immediate worry as a loud sound was heard and the batsman fell on his back and writhed in pain before retiring hurt still scoreless.
The news at the end of the day was not as bad as it first appeared as after being taken to the doctor for a precautionary x-ray, he was found not to be suffering from a fracture. According to Jamaica's physical trainer David Bernard, tests revealed that the player did not suffer any serious damage.
He was unable to say with any degree of certainty, however, if the player will be able to continue his innings today.
"He has been given medication and his hand will be iced but we are not sure yet. It depends on the extent of the swelling and the degree of the bruising. If it is badly bruised then we will not risk him in a trial match," Bernard said.
Ricardo Powell had taken his place at the wicket with Robert Samuel's' XI reeling at 32 for four.
All four wickets had fallen to Darren Powell who troubled the batsmen with his pace and movement.
Ricardo Powell was not the only one not to have a good day as the batsmen continued to experience trying times with bowlers taking all the glory.
Batting first Nehemiah Perry's XI were shot out for 91 off just 43.3 overs with fastbowler Denville McKenzie exploiting the early morning moisture in the wicket to finish with a haul of seven for 32 off 13 overs. He was backed up by spinner Bevon Brown who had two for 19 off 15 overs. The other wicket fell to West Indies youth pacer Jermaine Lawson.
Orlando Baker, with 29, was the only batsman to have a score approaching anything called respectability. Allrounder Laurie Williams got 15.
When Samuels' XI had their turn at the wicket they appeared to be heading down a similar road of destruction as Darren Powell removed Brenton Parchment, Carl Wright and Keith Hibbert cheaply.
They looked in even more danger when Ricardo Powell left the field and captain Samuels was brilliantly caught low down at midoff by David Bernard Jnr off the bowling of Odean Brown. A sixth wicket stand of 64 between wicketkeeper Matthew Sinclair and allrounder Bevon Brown halted the slide. Sinclair who was last out made 32 while Brown was still batting when play was called off at the fall of Sinclair's wicket. He is on 31. The score then was 106 for six.
Play resumes today at 10 am.
It was also learnt yesterday that Bernard Jnr and Jermaine Lawson were selected to represent the West Indies B team in the Busta Cup. Carlton Baugh Jnr and Bevon Brown whose names were also submitted by the Jamaica Cricket Association were left off the squad.
