Morton DURHAM CITY, England (CMC):
RUNAKO MORTON stroked an aggressive double century as the West Indies lifted their gloom with a strong batting performance on the second day of their three-day tour match against the MCC XI yesterday.
The right-handed Morton hammered a brilliant 201 as West Indies finished the day at 340 for four in response to the MCC XI's 260 all out at the Racecourse Ground in England's north-east.
Morton, who has struggled in the first two Tests against England with scores of 14, five and 25, took a liking to the inexperienced MCC attack, slamming 27 fours and five sixes in innings spanning 246 balls and just under 4 1/2 hours.
He shared two crucial century stands that lifted the West Indies after they had lost Devon Smith for 16 with the score on 21. He posted 161 for the second-wicket stand with captain Daren Ganga who scored 47 and then added another 138 for the third wicket with Sylvester Joseph who hit 41.
Boost his chances
The knock was Morton's second century of the tour after he scored 103 in the opening tour match against Somerset at Taunton last month, and it is certain to boost his chances of inclusion for the third Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday.
Batting at number three, Morton was quickly into strike striking the attack that included Barbados fast bowler Ruel Brathwaite and medium pacer Mali Richards, the son of the legendary Sir Vivian Richards, to all parts of the ground.
He reached his century from a mere 109 deliveries with 18 fours and one six and while exercising a little more caution en route to his second hundred, still reached his second landmark off another 136 balls with the addition of nine fours and four sixes.
Morton dominated both partnerships. Ganga occupied the crease for over 2 1/2 hours, facing 100 balls and striking five fours in his 47, while Joseph batted for two hours and faced 98 balls for his 41, stroking four fours.
Morton was dismissed shortly after reaching his double century, lbw to 22-year-old medium pacer Simon Butler. He was one of two wickets to fall with the score on 320 as Joseph had earlier given legspinner James Morris a caught and bowled chance which the 22-year-old snapped up.
At the close, Darren Sammy was unbeaten on a cameo 18 from 14 balls with four fours while Denesh Ramdin was not out on two.
Earlier, fast bowler Fidel Edwards claimed two of the three wickets to fall as the MCC, resuming from 234 for seven, were dismissed for the addition of just 26 runs.
Edwards finished with three for 66 and medium pacer Sammy, who took the other wicket to fall, claimed two for 66.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who finished with five for 43 on the opening day on Thursday, did not bowl Saturday.
It was enough time for the 21-year-old Shaaiq Choudhry to complete a hard-fought half-century as he carried his unbeaten 45 overnight to 54 not out. Richards, not out on 20, added just six before falling to a brilliant catch at deep midwicket by Dwayne Bravo off Edwards. It was one of two catches by Bravo who was acting as a substitute.
