Shillingford breaks Nagamootoo’s record as W/wards crush J/ca

ARNOS VALE, St Vincent, CMC – West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford grabbed a six-wicket haul to become the leading wicket-taker in regional first class cricket, as Windward Islands Volcanoes crushed Jamaica Franchise by an innings and 22 runs inside three days here yesterday.

Shane Shillingford
Shane Shillingford
Mahendra Nagamootoo
Mahendra Nagamootoo

The Dominican finished with six for 31 – his 28th five-wicket haul in first class cricket – to send the visitors tumbling for a disappointing 102 in their second innings on the penultimate day off the sixth round clash at the Arnos Vale Stadium.

In the process, Shillingford surpassed Guyanese leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo’s record of 325 wickets.

Carlton Baugh top scored with 24 and John Campbell got 22, but they were the only batsmen to pass 20 and two of only three to get into double figures.

Volcanoes had earlier wrapped up their first innings for 328, with Andre Fletcher converting his overnight 102 into 124.

Alston Bobb added just two to his overnight 21 while seamer David Bernard claimed five for 57 and leg-spinner Odean Brown, three for 83.

Leading by 124 runs, the Windwards quickly pressed home their advantage by grabbing wickets at regular intervals.

The rot started when Nkrumah Bonner offered no shot to one from left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters and was lbw for 18 with the score on 25 for one.

In the next over, Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood was caught at short leg by Tyrone Theophile off Shillingford for five at 30 for two and Jamaica were in strife when captain Tamar Lambert was run out for one by Keddy Lesporis’ direct hit from mid-off.

Tottering on 47 for three at lunch, the slump continued after the break as Shillingford continued to run through the innings.

The 31-year-old went past Nagamootoo’s record when he removed Campbell shortly after the resumption and Lesporis’ brilliant one-handed catch at the edge of the boundary to account for Horace Miller for two off left-arm spinner Bobb, reiterated Jamaica’s fate.