BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC — Test pacer Kemar Roach sent a strong signal to selectors ahead of the Pakistan series as his four-wicket haul trumped Devon Smith’s 28th first class hundred on the opening day of their seventh round clash in the Regiona four-day championship here yesterday.
Choosing to bat first at Kensington Oval, Volcanoes were lifted to 283 all out by Smith’s enterprising 103, with Keddy Lesporis
getting 59 and Tyrone Theophile, 44.
The visitors had cruised to 116 without loss at lunch and then 200 for two in the second session but the innings fell away badly thereafter as they lost their last eight wickets for 93 runs.
Roach, who has not played for West Indies in 14 months, led the rout with a brilliant spell of four for 22 from 15 overs, a performance unlikely to go unnoticed with Pakistan arriving in the Caribbean shortly.
He was supported by Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican with four for 69 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse picked up two for 71.
At the close, Pride were 22 without loss, still 271 runs behind their target.
Volcanoes appeared in full control during the first session, thanks mainly to Smith who combined with Theophile to put on 121 for the first wicket.
The left-handed Smith struck 16 fours in an innings spanning 196 balls and just under 4-1/2 hours while Theophile’s knock comprised eight fours off 108 deliveries in 2-1/2 hours.
Roach stuck a double blow after lunch, trapping Theophile lbw in the fourth over before removing Taryck Gabriel for a first ball ‘duck’ to a catch at the wicket off the very next delivery.
The 35-year-old Smith repaired the innings, however, in a solid 78-run third wicket stand with Lesporis whose eighth first class half-century was an attacking one, including eight fours and two sixes and coming from a mere 62 deliveries.
Lesporis was eventually stumped off Warrican about half-hour before tea leaving Volcanoes on 219 for three at the break but Roach returned again to help undermine the innings in the final session.
He accounted for Smith — who was fifth out with the score on 238 — superbly caught at second slip by Nurse.
