CLEAN SWEEP

Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks carved out contrasting maiden One-Day International Centuries but West Indies was forced to withstand a counter offensive from the Netherlands before pulling off a 20-run win and clinch their three – match series on Saturday, June 4.

In his first time at the top of the order, the left-hander Mayers blasted a robust 120 off 106 balls, a knock that included eight four and seven sixes and underpinned the Caribbean side’s 508 for five off their 40 overs

Brooks who dropped down to number three, produced s fancy unbeaten 101 off 115 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes in an innings which proved the perfect foil for Mayers’ fireworks.

Together, they posted 184 for the wicket, a stand that pushed West Indies in the first total in excess of 300 in the last 10 ODIs. The Dutch had West Indies under pressure with the hosts coasting at 206 for two in the 38th over but top-scorer O’Dowd’s demise in the 43rd over saw the last six wickets tumble for 49 runs. Dutch openers Max O’Dowd (89) and Vikramjit Singh (54) striking half-centuries and Musa Ahmed hitting a run-a-ball 42, scared West Indies before the run chase buckled for 288 in the last over. Opting to bat first at the VRA Ground, West Indies flourished through a 58-run, opening stand between Mayers and Shai Hope (24) before the latter dragged 22-year-old seamer Bas de Leede to mid-on in the 12th over. Hope’s dismissal paved the way for the real fireworks. Unbeaten on a run-a-ball 29 at the time, Mayers upped the tempo to reach his first 50 off 53 deliveries at the start of the 19th before motoring to three figures off just 96 balls with a short single to cover in the 38th over.