Santokie, Marshall set up win for Lambert XI

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie was back to his brilliant best yesterday when he produced figures of 5-20 off 7.4 overs to help guide Tamar Lambert XI to a seven-wicket win over Chris Gayle XI, in Jamaica's first trial match at Sabina Park.

Santokie, who was Jamaica's most outstanding player at the recent inaugural Caribbean Twenty20 championship, bowled with control and variation to help restrict Gayle XI to 115 off 39.4 overs.

Lambert XI, led by a characteristic, swasbuckling 45 from another in-form player, Xavier Marshall, then cruised to 116-3 off 31 overs.

The Jamaicans are preparing for next month's West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President's Cup one-day championship, which will be held here in Jamaica.

"Personally, I am disappointed that a number of players did not apply themselves batting wise," said national coach and selector, Junior Bennett.

"But having said that, I thought Santokie bowled extremely well. It shows that he is still in form from the Twenty20, and he continues to improve.

"I also liked the positive batting of Marshall. Lambert looked the part and Brendan Nash also held his own," he declared.

Marshall, who opened with Danza Hyatt (2), hit five fours and six in his 52-ball knock.

Lambert, who did an excellent job of rotating his bowlers in the field, supported Marshall best with 34 off 59 balls. Nash, 12, and young batsman Shacoya Thomas, four, were the not out batsmen.

Middle-order batsman Donovan Sinclair, 28, scored most runs for Gayle XI, with the skipper getting 23 and all-rounder Yannick Elliott 18. Marlon Samuels made three and Donovan Pagon one.

The next trial match, which will be the second of four for the 24-member squad, will be played on Wednesday at Chedwin Park.