Jaguars make strong reply against Volcanoes, King and Allen lead Scorpions’ recovery against Red Force
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Gavin Tonge produced a memorable spell of fast-medium, swing bowling to destroy the Barbados Pride batting and drive Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a stunning, innings-and-four-run victory – inside two days – in the Digicel 4-Day Championship on Thursday.
It was the Hurricanes’ first victory over the Pride at the West Indies first-class level in eight years and was only their eighth victory ever over the same opponents.
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At the same time, teenaged fast-medium bowler Sherfane Rutherford set things up for current leaders and reigning three-time champions Guyana Jaguars with an incisive spell and Chandrapaul Hemraj put them further in control against hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
And the race is on between Brandon King and Fabian Allen to see which will christen the Brian Lara Cricket Ground with its maiden first-class hundred, as Jamaica Scorpions recovered to finish the day strongly against hosts Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes beat Barbados Pride by an innings and four runs in Bridgetown, Barbados
Tonge collected 6-21 from 12 overs, finishing with match figures of 9-26, as the Pride were bowled out for 116 in their second innings about 50 minutes before the scheduled close of their second-round match.
Windies white-ball player Ashley Nurse hit eight fours and three sixes in the top score of 67 from 71 balls in a 1 ¾-hour stay at the crease and was the only Pride batsman that reached 20.
Jeremiah Louis, the Player-of-the-Match for a memorable all-round performance with ball and bat, formalised the result for the Hurricanes, when he had Nurse caught at long-off to end with 3-43 from 10.3 overs – and match figures of 9-112 to follow up a crucial first-innings half-century earlier in the day.
Tonge’s performance followed a rearguard led by Louis that gave the Hurricanes a 120-run, first-innings lead, when they were bowled out for 233 around 20 minutes past the scheduled lunch interval.
Louis, the Hurricanes first-day bowling hero, gathered 62 from 109 balls in close to two hours that included six fours and one six to lead the way with the bat for the visitors.
He added 50 for the last wicket with Jason Campbell to frustrate the Pride, after the Hurricanes slumped to 183 for nine and looked in danger of being dismissed for less than 200.
Part-time off-spinner Kenroy Williams collected a career-best 5-50 from 20 overs to be the pick of the Pride’s bowler.
Windward Islands Volcanoes (151) vs Guyana Jaguars (117-4) at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia
The 19-year-old Rutherford, playing in only his third first-class match, finished with 6-32, as the Volcanoes were bundled out cheaply, after they were sent in to bat on the opening day of the contest.
Former Windies Under-19 batsman Kavem Hodge top-scored with 48 to provide the only real resistance, as Rutherford undermined the Volcanoes’ batting.
In reply, Jaguars plunged to 22 for three, as fast bowler Sherman Lewis grabbed two early wickets to leave them in disarray.
Chandrapaul Hemraj hit a crisp 50 not out however, and combined with Windies “A” batsman Vishaul Singh for a 66-run, third-wicket stand to stabilise the innings.
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford removed Hemraj late in the final session, but Anthony Bramble, not out on 13, and Singh, not out on 33, steered Jaguars safely to the close.
Earlier, Volanoes were in early trouble when they lost their top three with just 38 on the board, as former Windies Under-19 pace bowler Keemo Paul struck twice with the new ball.
Hodge then anchored two small partnerships to revive the Volcanoes innings with former Windies Test vice-captain Kirk Edwards and wicketkeeper/batsman Gian Benjamin.
There was token resistance from the rest of the batting, as Rutherford grabbed the last five wickets to fall for just 21.
Jamaica Scorpions (246-4) vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground
King and Allen pulled the Scorpions out of trouble, after the visitors courted danger on 44 for three.
King was unbeaten on 91 and Allen was not out on 80, sharing an unbroken, fifth-wicket stand of 161 that dominated the remainder of the day.
Speedster Roshon Primus struck early, as the hosts made the early running in the maiden first-class match at the recently-completed venue.
King started the revival with his captain Paul Palmer putting on 41 for the fourth wicket before Palmer fell seven balls after lunch to pave the way for a brilliant partnership with Allen.