Hooper strokes century and McLean shines in England
Stabroek News
May 24, 2003
DURHAM, England - Carl Hooper stroked his first century for Lancashire and fast bowler Nixon McLean grabbed three wickets as the only West Indies players in English County cricket made the headlines on Thursday.
Hooper helped Lancashire into a commanding position against the University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) and McLean snared three important wickets to leave Somerset in charge against his former club Hampshire.
Hooper scored 101 and there was a century as well from Alec Swann (137) as Lancashire gathered 432 for three by stumps in reply to the UCCE's 327 for nine declared on the second day of the three-day match at the Durham University Ground.
Lancashire lead by 105 runs with seven wickets remaining in the first innings.
Axed as West Indies captain after the World Cup, Hooper withdrew from the Caribbean side's Cable & Wireless Test series against Australia and joined Lancashire earlier this month as the replacement for injured Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.
He scored a fluent run-a-minute 51 off 37 balls when Lancashire beat Hampshire in the National Cricket League (NCL) on Sunday, and on Thursday the 36-year-old Guyanese maintained his free-scoring form with his hundred off 122 balls, including nine fours and four sixes. (CMC)
