Ravi Bopara and Amjad Khan - flown in as cover for sidelined all-rounder Andrew Flintoff - starred on Sunday as England dominated day one of a two-day cricket match against a Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) President's XI.
Bopara struck a run-a-ball 124 not out to pilot England to 351-8 declared at Windward Cricket Club. The Essex all-rounder smacked 17 fours and three sixes in two and a half hours.
Fast bowler Khan then took 2-22 as the young Barbados team limped to 49-4 at the close.
England captain Andrew Strauss, surviving an early chance, notched a fine 66 off 90 balls with nine fours as the visitors, put into bat, made good early progress.
But 17-year-old pacer Jason Holder grabbed the wickets of Alastair Cook (16) and Owais Shah (4) before England went to lunch on 109-2.
Strauss retired at the interval, but Ian Bell (44) and Tim Ambrose (74) shared a stand of 64 for the fourth wicket as England's batsmen continued to prosper.
Medium pacer Kevin Stoute, the pick of the local bowlers with 4-67, then claimed two quick wickets to stall England.
Bell was caught at gully and, in the same over, Matt Prior fell for a three-ball duck.
But the 23-year-old Bopara, who has appeared in three Tests, and reserve wicketkeeper Ambrose dominated the rest of the innings with some fluent strokeplay. The pair added 147 for the sixth wicket.
After England declared with an hour remaining, the BCA President's XI stumbled early as left-arm pacer Ryan Sidebottom claimed an early breakthrough and Khan took two wickets in one over.
Captain Sharmarh Brooks (20 not out), one of the five players in the Barbados team with first-class experience, survived until the close.
AP
Monday, February 23, 2009 12:39:05 PM
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