Runs flow on opening day of West Indies Championship

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

JERMAINE BLACKWOOD scored the first century of the 2025 West Indies Championship as batsmen dominated the opening-day contests in the four territories yesterday.

While Blackwood stroked an unbeaten 101 to help the Jamaica Scorpions reach 291 for seven against the Windward Island Volcanoes, eight other batters scored half- centuries to put their teams in strong positions.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Despite rain only allowing 54 overs to be bowled, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force still ended the day in the ascendancy at 171 for two against the Combined Campuses and Colleges thanks to openers Cephas Cooper, who scored 80, and Vikash Mohan, who made 66.

Much of the morning and afternoon session was lost due to persistent showers, but Cooper and Mohan put on 139 runs for the first wicket to give their side a solid start.

At Arnos Vale: Former West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood scored a patient century to help rescue the Jamaica Scorpions in their match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Blackwood ended the day unbeaten on 101 from 198 balls, and together with Daniel Beckford, who made a passive 39 from 101 balls, staged a recovery after the Scorpions had slipped to 164 for five.

Captain John Campbell cracked 79 from 91 balls at the top of the order.

So far, leg spinner Darel Cyrus has taken 2-26.

At the Coolidge Cricket Ground: Jahmar Hamilton scored a crucial, unbeaten 67, and Karima Gore made 59 to lead the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a strong position of 290 for six against the West Indies Academy.

Hamilton and Gore came together with the Hurricanes in a spot of bother at 128 for four after left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop had ripped through the top order.

The pair added 110 to carry their side to relative safety, and following Gore’s dismissal, Hamilton teamed up with Hayden Walsh Jr to add 38 valuable runs to keep the Hurricanes in the driver’s seat.

Bishop has so far taken 4-81.

At the Guyana National Stadium: The Barbados Pride produced a solid batting effort to ensure the defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles toiled all day.

Despite half-centuries from opener Zachary McCaskie, who made 64, and Jonathan Drakes, who scored 70, a decisive spell of spin bowling by off spinner Richie Looknauth put Guyana in control of the match, with the visitors struggling on 191 for six.

But a counterattacking knock of 82 from 91 balls by Matthew Forde, together with some resolute batting by the Pride’s lower order, turned the contest around in the evening session.

Forde put on 119 for the seventh wicket with Chaim Holder, who made 35, and then fast bowler Chemar Holder blasted 29 from 30 balls with two sixes and two fours to ensure the Pride finished on 346 and with a flourish.

Looknauth led the way for Guyana with 4-69, and Ronaldo Alimohamed and Veerasammy Permaul took two wickets apiece.