THE thought of facing a West Indian fast bowler on a damp pitch is enough to send most cricketers into a cold sweat.

But it became a reality for Herefordshire villagers Moccas who likened the experience to facing an ‘express train’.

Elsroy Powell, 26, has taken 27 senior wickets in the Caribbean and plays for the Leeward Islands, St Kitts and West Indies B.

His last top-flight appearance was for St Kitts against the United States Virgin Islands in a Twenty20 match in January.

It is a far cry from Bosbury Primary School’s sports field where Powell charged in to bowl in a GB Liners Marches League Division 2 match last Saturday.

Bosbury Cricket Club secretary Dave Daffin explained: “Elsroy came over to play for Colwall but there was a misunderstanding and they have another registered overseas player. We know some of the lads at Colwall because they used to play for us and they offered Elsroy to us for a few games.”

He added: “Elsroy is the first West Indian to play for Bosbury. He hopes to play for the West Indies and he can’t be too far away from knocking on their door.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, Powell soon had the Moccas batsmen cowering in the pavilion as he took a hat-trick and finished with 6-17.

Moccas were shot out for just 48 in 17.4 overs after Bosbury had posted 253-8.

Daffin said: “Elsroy scored 40 runs in his first match, before I ran him out. He scored 46 last Saturday before the ball stopped on him and he was caught. I can’t remember the last time that a Bosbury player took a hat-trick. It must have been a long time ago. I think Elsroy inspired Jon Owen because he bowled superbly at the other end.”

Moccas stalwart Joe Brown said: “He was like an express train and I don’t think any of our lads had seen anything like it before. We are bottom of the league and have made a very disappointing start to the season. It got even worse last Saturday.”

Powell wants to play in a higher standard of cricket and Daffin believes Bosbury may only have his services for one more match.

Goodrich 2nd are the visitors to Bosbury this Saturday.

Goodrich skipper Mark Evans said: “This is the first I have heard about Elsroy and it’s exciting to have such an excellent overseas cricketer playing in Herefordshire. We are looking forward to facing this rising West Indian star. Hopefully, he won’t take all 10 wickets!”