Former West Indies wicket-keeper Ivor Mendonca loses cancer battle

Georgetown (Guyana), June 15 (IANS/CMC): Former West Indies wicketkeeper Ivor Mendonca died here on Saturday.

Mendonca, who played two Tests against India in 1962, had been suffering with throat and prostate cancer. He was 79, reports CMC quoting news website Demerara Waves.

Anand Sanasie, secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, paid tribute to Mendonca.

"The Guyana Cricket Board extends its condolences to his friends and family. Mendonca was one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the 50s and 60," Sanasie said.

"He was always exemplary in his conduct and my personal knowledge of him is that he was a coach helping with the grooming of young players."

Mendonca made his Test debut on India's 1962 tour of the Caribbean, when he stepped in for the injured Jackie Hendriks in the second Test at Sabina Park.

Amazingly, he was involved in five dismissals and struck 78 as West Indies won by an innings but was allowed just one more Test, the fourth one at Queen's Park Oval where he again had five dismissals.

It proved to be Mendonca's last first-class appearance as Deryck Murray got the nod for the subsequent tour of England.

He was the uncle of Grimsby Town and Charlton Athletic striker Clive Mendonca.