Alex Tudor took five wickets on his debut for England A as his side completed a comprehensive 224 run win over West Indies B in the Busta International Shield in Grenada today.

Alex Tudor Photo Paul McGregor

The first victory of the Caribbean tour was achieved nine overs after lunch allowing the players the luxury of a free afternoon on the beach before preparations start for the second round match against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.

Resuming on their overnight total of 35 for two, the inexperienced home side suffered a blow when captain Richie Richardson, the former West Indies skipper, was forced out of action with a back spasm.

Without him, the youngsters struggled and by lunch had collapsed to 79 for eight with Tudor doing the early damage then Usman Afzaal, who was called on to bowl in place of the injured Ryan Sidebottom, proving to be an effective substitute, taking a remarkable 3-5 in six overs.

Tudor, completing his over from the previous day, struck with his second ball of the morning giving him two wickets in three balls in what was an impressive show of genuine pace combined with consistent line and length. But his performance in taking 5-37 was marred by bowling nine no balls.

Afterwards, he admitted he had been trying to eliminate a tendency for his head to tilt sideways on delivery, which had side-tracked him but he resolved to iron out the problem before his next game.

Afzaal, who has ambitions to be a genuine all-rounder, was thrilled by his success.

"It gave me a chance to show what I could do because in county cricket last season, I did not get too many overs and this means I may get called on more which is exactly what I want," said the 24 year-old who grabbed his first wicket with his first delivery when Wayne Phillip, attempting to sweep, was struck on the pads to give England A their sixth wicket.

By the end of his spell, West Indies B were 70 for eight chasing England's target of 329 and despite a resilient ninth wicket stand between Rodney Sooklal and Kenroy Peters which put on 25, it was just a matter of time before the innings was wrapped up, Tudor completing the job with a cleverly disguised slower ball that Sooklal edged to slip.

It was a satisfactory start to the competition, skipper Mark Alleyne said after the match and provided a valuable warm up for the challenge ahead.

"It was a pleasing victory to have under our belt especially as were underprepared in terms of match practice but we are not getting carried away with it," he said.

"They were not a very strong side and we expect much stiffer competition as we progress. On day one, we batted fairly well but could have been more clinical.

"In the field we lost Sidebottom with a groin strain and going into a hot days play with one bowler short can often affect a team's performance but everyone tucked in and worked hard and we came out of it well.

"I was slightly worried about some aspects of our game. We had not managed to get in much fielding or catching practice and that showed. I want us to be really clinical in the field.

"I was also concerned about the bowler's rhythm - it would have been nice if all the bowlers found their rhythm straight away, stayed behind the popping crease so there are not any extra balls," he said referring to Tudor.

"But take away those no balls, and he bowled fantastically today," said Alleyne.

"We are all perfectionists in our own way and that will be bugging him tonight so he will get back in the nets and makes sure he gets it right. It shouldn't deflect from his achievement of taking five wickets but it is an area he should get sorted."

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