Hurricanes, Scorpions locked in tense battle

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Jamaica Scorpions are locked in an intriguing battle for first innings points at the end of the second day’s play in the West Indies Championship yesterday.

At the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: The Scorpions added just 14 runs to their overnight total to be eventually dismissed for 320 in their first innings, with Brad Barnes left stranded on 63 not out.

The Hurricanes then endured a topsy-turvy innings before ending the day with a slight edge at 301 for seven, just 19 runs behind.

Following the early loss of openers Mikyle Louis and Kadeem Henry, which left them 30 for two, the Hurricanes rebuilt the innings on the back of Karima Gore’s half-century that saw them cruising at 143 for three at one point.

And, when Gore eventually fell for 76, leg before wicket to leg spinner Tamarie Redwood, Jahmar Hamilton picked up the slack with an unbeaten knock of 77.

Hamilton and Hayden Walsh Jr added 78 for the seventh wicket and, when the latter was dismissed for 31, he and Rakheem Cornwall shared a 33-run partnership to get them up to 300 before Cornwall lost his wicket minutes close to the end of play.

At the Guyana National Stadium: Kyle Corbin scored his second first-class century to propel the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) to a formidable total of 375 against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles.

Resuming on 62 with the CCC on 279 for six, Corbin scored 102 and, ably assisted by a stubborn lower order, added 96 valuable runs before he was forced to retire hurt after facing 204 balls and hitting 11 fours and one six.

He first added 38 with Akeem Jordan who made 16 and then shared in a 46-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Avinash Mahabirsingh, who scored an unbeaten 33.

In trouble early on

Ronaldo Alimohamed (3-56), Veerasammy Permaul (3-87), Shamar Joseph (3-115), all took three wickets for Guyana.

Faced with a tall task of overhauling CCC’s first-innings total, the Harpy Eagles found themselves in trouble early on.

Openers Matthew Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell cheaply to pacers Jordan and Ojay Shields, respectively.

And, when Jordan trapped Kevlon Anderson leg before wicket for 19 and Mahabirsingh dismissed Raymond Perez, Guyana had slumped to 53 for four.

The home side was rescued by a timely unbeaten half-century from Tevin Imlach, who ended the day on 58, and Richie Looknauth, who was unbeaten on 21, as Guyana closed out the day on 166 for six, still a massive 209 runs behind.

Shields has taken 3-42 while Jordan finished on 2-33.