ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Opener Mikyle Louis extended his amazing run of form in his maiden first class season when he lashed his third hundred of the West Indies Championship Wednesday, while Test star Joshua Da Silva struck a fifth first class century to bail Trinidad and Tobago Red Force out of trouble.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva … hit his fifth first class hundred.The 23-year-old Louis carved out exactly 100 to take his tally for the season to 649 runs as Leeward Islands frustrated leaders Windward Islands Volcanoes on the opening day of the final round match at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
With his side slumping at 18 for three early in the first session, Louis struck nine fours and a six in a 193-ball knock to prop up the innings and propel Hurricanes to 300 all out.
In the five balls available before the close, Volcanoes lost left-hander Jeremy Solozano for four, to end on six for one – still 294 runs behind heading into Thursday’s second day.
Fast bowler Ryan John (3-67) and new-ball partner Gilon Tyson (2-33) made key strikes after Hurricanes chose to bat, removing the West Indies trio of Kieran Powell (7), Keacy Carty (0) and Justin Greaves (0) cheaply.
Powell clipped a simple catch low to square leg in the morning’s fourth over from Tyson while John trapped Carty lbw playing down the wrong line and then had Greaves brilliantly caught by Alick Athanaze moving to his right at second slip, a few balls later in the same over.
Louis started the recovery in a 78-run, fourth wicket stand with Jahmar Hamilton who struck 34 off 48 balls with half-dozen fours, before putting on a further 111 with 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, whose 68 came from 107 balls and included half-dozen fours and three sixes.
When both Louis and Andrew perished in close proximity to each other, Jeremiah Louis ensured the tail wagged with a bold 43 off 64 balls.
At Sabina Park in Kingston, the 25-year-old Da Silva gathered 106 as Red Force rebounded from 96 for four to close on 308 for seven against Jamaica Scorpions after being sent in.
Red Force were cruising at 81 for one courtesy of a 52-run second wicket partnership between Kjorn Ottley (45) and Jyd Goolie (19) before suffering a collapse to lose three wickets for 15 runs in quick time, off-spinner and captain Pete Salmon (2-68) striking twice.
However, captain Da Silva put on 80 for the fifth wicket with Amir Jangoo who built on his double century in the last round with 51 off 90 balls with seven fours and a six, before Navin Bidaisee (31) arrived to add a further 92 for the sixth wicket with Da Silva.
The West Indies gloveman, who faced only 140 deliveries and counted 15 fours and a six, also anchored a seventh wicket stand of 36 with Terrance Hinds (21 not out) before losing his off-stump to left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal (2-76) with the close beckoning.
At the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground at UWI St Augustine, title-holders Guyana Harpy Eagles put their noses out front in the title race when they dominated Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners.
Asked to bowl first, they bundled CCC out for 200 with fast bowler Nial Smith (3-45) and veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (3-51) ending with three wickets apiece.
Wicketkeeper Demario Richards top-scored with 43 while Romario Greaves got 36 at number seven, the latter posting 44 for the seventh wicket with Avinash Mahabirsingh (23) in the best stand of the innings.
Richards, who hit five fours and a six, had earlier put on 43 for the fourth wicket with captain Shamarh Brooks (16) to pull the innings around from nine for three inside the first hour.
Opener Raymond Perez then led the reply with a fluent, unbeaten 61 off 89 deliveries with nine fours as Harpy Eagles closed on 114 for one – just 86 runs behind.
Perez put on 45 for the first wicket with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12) before adding a further 69 in an unbroken second wicket partnership with Kevlon Anderson (27 not out).
Barbados Pride, one of four teams in with a chance of clinching the title, were dismissed cheaply for 155 at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua but hit back to reduce West Indies Academy to 111 for four at the close.
Choosing to bat, Pride were coasting at 104 for three at one stage courtesy of a 61-run fourth wicket partnership between top-scorer Jonathan Drakes (35) and Kevin Wickham (27) but dramatically lost their last seven wickets for just 51 runs, fast bowlers Johann Layne (3-23) and McKenny Clarke (3-26) picking up three wickets apiece.
Ackeem Auguste then produced an unbeaten 67 to hold WI Academy together, the 20-year-old stroking half-dozen fours and a six in a 98-ball knock.
He put on 48 with Kadeem Alleyne (17) to help pick his side up from a position of four for one, and then put on a further 40 with Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (five not out) in an unbroken fifth wicket stand, after the hosts lost three wickets for 19 runs to slide to 71 for four.
Volcanoes entered the decisive final round on 89.6 points, less than two points clear of Pride on 87.8, with Harpy Eagles (87.2) and Hurricanes (82.6) both also in with a shot at the title.
