ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Eighteen wickets fell at the National Stadium yesterday but Barbados Pride put their noses in front heading into the penultimate day of their fourth round encounter in the Regional First Class Championship against Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Resuming on 233 for four, the visitors lost their last six wickets for 63 runs to be dismissed for 296 but then routed Volcanoes for a mediocre 179, to take a lead of 117 runs.
However, Pride slumped to eight for two before crawling to the close on 30 for two – an overall lead of 147 runs.
Opener Kemar Brathwaite was unbeaten on 20.
Looking to build on a steady first day performance, Pride’s hopes of building a massive total were dashed by Volcanoes’ spinners who nabbed five of the last six wickets to fall.
Off-spinner and captain Liam Sebastien finished with four for 68 while out-of-favour West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford picked up three for 94. Dalton Polius, also bowling off-breaks, claimed three for 30.
Roston Chase, unbeaten on 27 overnight, added just eight before he was seventh out.
Pacer Miguel Cummins and captain and seamer Kevin Stoute then scythed through the Volcanoes top order to leave the innings reeling at 79 for seven just after tea.
Stoute was the leading bowler with four for 30 while Cummins claimed three for 42 and off-spinner Ashley Nurse, two for 31.
Sebastien, however, engineered a recovery, stroking a lively 47 off 58 deliveries in a 66-run, eighth wicket stand with Alston Bobb, who was unbeaten on 40 off 59 balls.
The right-handed Sebastien struck five fours and one six while Bobb counted a four and a six, in a partnership that allowed the hosts to prosper in the final session.
Pride rocked Volcanoes early when speedster Tino Best struck opener Miles Bascombe on the head with a short ball and forced him to retire hurt on 12 with the score on 24.
Cummins then knocked over West Indies limited overs opener Johnson Charles for five before Stoute trapped Tyrone Theophile for 19 at 42 for two.
When Cummins also sent back Sunil Ambris, lbw without scoring at 46 for three, Volcanoes were in trouble and the next four wickets tumbled for 33 runs as the rut continued.
Conceding a healthy lead late in the day, Volcanoes struck two crucial blows before the close when Kyle Corbin was lbw to Shillingford for three and new batsman Jonathan Carter was bowled by seamer Mervyn Mathew for one.
Scoreboard
PRIDE 1st Innings
(overnight 233 for four)
K Corbin c Matthew b Polius 68
K Brathwaite b Shillingford 46
J Carter c Shillingford b Polius 30
S Brooks c wkp Fletcher b Sebastien 51
R Chase c Bobb b Sebastien 35
M Cummins lbw b Sebastien 5
*K Stoute c Ambris b Shillingford 0
+M Rampersaud lbw b Sebastien 18
A Nurse c Bascombe b Shillingford 8
S Benn not out 10
T Best c Charles b Polius 10
Extras (b7, lb6, nb2) 15
TOTAL (all out, 126.3 overs) 233
Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-144, 3-148, 4-231, 5-238, 6-239, 7-251, 8-272, 9-278, 10-296.
Bowling: Mathew 10-6-15-0, Peters 9-1-34-0, Shillingford 39-7-94-3, Bobb 21-5-42-0, Sebastien 34-6-68-4, Polius 13.3-1-30-3.
VOLCANOES 1st Innings
T Theophile lbw b Stoute 19
M Bascombe c Brathwaite b Stoute 12
J Charles c Nurse b Cummins 5
S Ambris lbw b Cummins 0
+A Fletcher c wkp Rampersaud b Cummins 14
D Polius lbw b Stoute 17
*L Sebastien c wkp Rampersaud b Nurse 47
S Shillingford b Stoute 2
A Bobb not out 40
M Matthew c Brathwaite b Nurse 2
K Peters st Rampersaud b Benn 8
Extras (b2, lb3, w5, nb3) 13
TOTAL (all out, 48.3 overs) 179
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-46, 4-71, 5-71, 6-79, 7-90, 8-156, 9-160, 10-179.
Bowling: Best 11-0-55-0, Cummins 12-2-42-3, Stoute 11-2-30-4, Nurse 9-0-31-2, Benn 5.3-1-16-1,
PRIDE 2nd Innings
K Corbin lbw b Shillingford 3
K Brathwaite not out 20
J Carter b Mathew 1
S Brooks not out 4
Extras (b2) 2
TOTAL (2 wkts, 11 overs) 30
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-8.
Bowling: Mathew 4-2-4-1, Shillingford 5-1-15-1, Bobb 1-0-6-0, Sebastien 1-0-3-0.
Position: Pride lead by 147 runs.
