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Windies fire up in Cup warmup

Bermuda's 122kg spinner Dwayne Leverock celebrates taking the wicket of England's Kevin Pietersen, right, during the Cricket World Cup warmup match against England at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, St. Vincent, on Monday. The 35-year-old policeman, who took 3-32 from 10 overs to spark a mid-innings collapse before England won their World Cup warmup on Monday by 241 runs, says he has actually trimmed down. PHOTO: AP

Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle bludgeoned Kenya's bowling attack on Monday, hoping it will be a sample for long-waiting West Indies fans of what to expect at the World Cup.

The World Cup program opened with four warmup matches, bringing cricket's marquee limited-overs tournament to the Caribbean for the first time.

England trounced Bermuda by 241 runs and 1996 champion Sri Lanka coasted to a 159-run win over Scotland in lopsided matches, while top-ranked South Africa held off a determined Irish lineup thanks to Andrew Hall's contributions with bat and ball.

Warmup matches continued yesterday with defending champion Australia against Zimbabwe, India against Netherlands, New Zealand playing Bangladesh and Pakistan versus Canada.

The tournament proper commences on March 13 with the final set for April 28.

The West Indies won the first two editions in 1975 and 1979 and lost the 1983 final to India, when the World Cups were held in England.

Since then, the West Indies has been usurped by Australia as the sport's dominant team and slipped well down the rankings despite having Brian Lara, one of cricket's greats, on the team.

Performers dance after the West Indies' Marlon Samuels scored a century against Kenya during their Cricket World Cup warmup match in Trelawny, Jamaica, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

World Cup matches have been held in Australia and New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the meantime, making the West Indies the last of the traditional test nations to host.

Lara, 37, is confident his lineup can live up to the huge local expectations. He did not bat in the 21-run win over Kenya, the 2003 World Cup semi-finalist, leaving it to Jamaicans Samuels (100) and Gayle (75) to do the honors on their home island.

Lara said he was happy with the win over Kenya, but predicted a tougher challenge against India in the team's last warmup match on Friday.

"We'll be playing a better team, a team where a result will have some sort of psychological advantage," Lara said. "We would like a win in that game and I expect the intensity levels to be raised."

The champion left-hander said he was in good shape for the World Cup.

"Mentally, I'm strong. I'm looking forward to the World Cup. And if things don't go well on Friday, it's not going to be a big problem," he said.

"I'm experienced enough to get it together in the nets and be able to reproduce something out in the middle that is going to benefit the team," Lara said.

At Trinidad, Hall dragged South Africa out of trouble, scoring an unbeaten 67 to lift the Proteas from 91 for eight to 192. He then took three wickets to help secure a 36-run win over World Cup rookie Ireland.

Ireland's Australian-born fast bowlers did some early damage, with Trent Johnston snaring 4-40 and David Langford-Smith returning 3-30.

Langford-Smith removed Graeme Smith (9), AB de Villiers (5) and Jacques Kallis (12) to have South Africa reeling at 42 for three.

Johnston chimed in with the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs (21), playing despite an injured finger, Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock and Loots Bosman before Hall resurrected the innings.

South African-born Andre Botha top-scored with 40 for Ireland.

England, on a roll after beating Australia in the recent tri-series Down Under, overcame an unsteady start to post 286 for eight and then skittled Bermuda for 45 in 22.2 overs.

Jamie Dalrymple scored 76 from 79 balls to restore England's middle order after giant Bermudan police officer Dwayne Leverock removed Paul Collingwood caught behind and had Kevin Pietersen stumped.

"Most players got something out of the game," said England captain Michael Vaughan, returning from a frustrating hamstring problem. "It was nice to get some of the bowlers four or five overs each," he said.

Paceman Jon Lewis also returned from injury with figures of 3-7 from four overs, while Andrew Flintoff took 2-3 and James Anderson 2-8 off five.

Sri Lanka got on top early against Scotland with former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya hitting four boundaries and five sixes as he contributed 77 to a 117-run opening stand with Upul Tharanga.

The Sri Lankans posted 294 for seven, with Kumar Sangakkara blazing 81, then removed Scotland for 135 in 41.2 overs at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he was satisfied with the performance and looking forward to even better against New Zealand on Friday.
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