WI Championship: Pride, Volcanoes in intriguing battle

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Barbados Pride and the Windward Islands Volcanoes are locked in an intriguing contest, while the Guyana Harpy Eagles have batted themselves in a strong position against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes heading into today’s fourth and final day of the sixth round of matches in the West Indies (WI) Championship.

Chasing a challenging total of 305 runs for victory, the Pride ended the day on 144 for three and will fancy their chances of completing the chase.

The Harpy Eagles have completely erased the Hurricanes’ 142-run first-innings lead and are comfortably placed on 381 for four thanks to centuries by captain Tevin Imlach and Kevlon Anderson.

At the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium: Penetrative bowling from Barbados Pride pacers Ramon Simmonds and Jair McAllister wrestled control away from the Windward Islands Volcanoes and gave their team a good chance of victory at the end of the third day’s play.

Kavem Hodge and Shadrack Descarte looked to have put the game beyond the visitors’ grasp during a 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Resuming the day on 203 for four, an overall lead of 191, Hodge and Descarte carried the score to 252 without further loss and a formidable total loomed, until Simmonds and McAllister orchestrated a middle-order collapse that saw the Volcanoes lose their last six wickets for 64 runs.

Simmonds struck first by dismissing Descarte for an even 50 from 87 balls, before disaster struck for the home side when Hodge was needlessly run out by Matthew Forde for 99 to leave them 262 for six.

His knock lasted 212 balls and he hit nine fours.

Simmonds then had Noelle Leo caught behind for 20 and also accounted for the wicket of Ryan John, before McAllister wrapped up the tail by dismissing Keon Gaston and Kenneth Dember cheaply.

Simmonds finished with 4-47, while McAllister took 2-25.

Set 305 to win, Pride captain Kraigg Brathwaite failed for the second time in the match when he was trapped leg before wicket by John for just two.

Moseley and Jonathan Drakes then added 84 runs for the second wicket, before the Volcanoes snared two quick wickets to seize the advantage.

First, Drakes was dismissed by Gaston for 35 and then Kevin Wickham fell to Dember for four to see the Pride slip to 93 for three.

But Moseley and Kyle Mayers came to their side’s rescue in an unbroken 51-run stand for the fourth wicket and the Pride ended the day on 144 for three, needing another 161 runs to complete a memorable run chase.

At Warner Park: Guyana Harpy Eagles captain Tevin Imlach along with Kevlon Anderson both cracked responsible centuries to pull their side out of deep trouble against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Imlach scored an unbeaten 103, while Anderson hit 101 in their impressive second-innings total of 381 for four.

A mammoth effort was required by the Harpy Eagles after conceding a 142-run first-innings lead, and their batters showed up to the party.

Resuming on 137 for one, still in arrears, the Hurricanes got an early breakthrough when Matthew Nandu was run out for 66 to leave the score 169 for two.

However, the Hurricanes would reap no further success for the remaining morning session, as Anderson and Imlach joined forces at the crease in a crucial 114-run partnership.

At the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in Trinidad: Combined Campuses and Colleges lead West Indies Academy by 201 runs with six wickets remaining.

CCC 238 & 279-4 in 68 overs (Johann Jeremiah 107, Shaqkere Parris 56; Jediah Blades 2-49, Kelvin Pittman 2-63).

WI Academy 316.