Volcanoes, Pride, WI Academy begin fourth round on positive notes

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

THE WINDWARD Islands Volcanoes and Barbados Pride started their fourth-round matches positively against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Combined Colleges and Campuses, respectively.

The Volcanoes ended the day on 364 for seven, with Shadrack Descarte scoring a century, while the Pride staged a late fightback to dismiss the CCC for 262.

The West Indies Academy also ended the day in the ascendancy against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force even though rain only allowed 44 overs of play.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Jamaica Scorpions are locked in a tense battle after sharing opening-day honours.

At the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Shadrack Descarte scored his maiden first-class century to put the Windward Islands Volcanoes in control after the opening day of their match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Batting at number six, Descarte slammed 119 from 188 balls to rescue his side from a middle-order collapse and lead them to 364 for seven.

Hurricanes pacer Oshane Thomas delivered a devastating opening spell, taking four of the first five wickets to reduce the Volcanoes to 132 for five.

But Descarte added 56 with Gian Benjamin, who made 30 and then teamed up with Ryan John to add a further 145 runs for the seventh wicket to help the Volcanoes stage a remarkable recovery.

John ended the day unbeaten on 71 off 103 balls, while Kenneth Dember is 18 not out.

Thomas has so far taken 4-45 for the Hurricanes.

At Kensington Oval, Barbados Pride off spinner Roston Chase triggered a lower-order collapse to undo the hard work of Damel Evelyn and put his side on top after the first day in their clash against the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC).

FIRST-CLASS CENTURY

Evelyn scored his maiden first-class century, 110 of 202 balls, as CCC dominated the opening two sessions, but Chase’s late burst led a fightback from the home side, which saw them dismiss the visitors for 262.

When Evelyn was at the crease with Kieran Powell, the CCC were cruising at 209 for three and looked set to post a formidable first-innings total.

However, Chase snagged five quick wickets as the CCC lost their last seven wickets for 53 runs, including their last three without scoring.

Chase ended with 5-70, and Jomel Warrican took 3-76 to be the Pride’s best bowlers.

At the close, the Pride finished on 29 without loss, 233 runs in arrears.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, pacer Johann Layne took four wickets as the West Indies Academy piled on the pressure against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Rain played a major factor, allowing only 44 overs to be bowled, but the Red Force limped to 129 for six by the time play was called off early.

The Red Force never recovered from a poor start that saw them lose openers Cephas Cooper and Tion Webster cheaply to fall to 10 for two.

Left-arm pacer Nathan Edward claimed the important wicket of Amir Jangoo for 22 before Layne snagged the crucial wicket of Jason Mohammed for 32 as the Red Force fell to 89 for four.

Captain Joshua Da Silva and Jhary Pierre both ended the day unbeaten on 30, with the two having added 38 runs for the seventh wicket.

Layne has taken 4-20 so far.

At Sabina Park, Kevlon Anderson scored a century for the Guyana Harpy Eagles, but their match against the Jamaica Scorpions remains in the balance after the first day.

Anderson scored an even century off 161 balls before retiring hurt, and the Harpy Eagles lost three late wickets to finish on 260 for five.

Anderson and Matthew Nandu, who scored a patient 61 from 195 balls, shared a 137-run partnership for the second wicket to put the Harpy Eagles in a strong position at 192 for one.

But Odean Smith grabbed two wickets in the final session, which saw the visitors lose three for 25 runs to set up an interesting second day’s play.