BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Devon Smith dominated with his 37th first class hundred as Windward Islands Volcanoes collared Barbados Pride’s bowlers, on the opening day of the sixth round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.
Opting to bat first at Kensington Oval, Volcanoes piled up 325 for five, with the veteran left-hander ending on an unbeaten 146.
Smith faced 256 deliveries in six hours and 21 minutes at the crease, and struck 18 fours and a six.
Discarded Test batsman continued to keep himself in the selectors’ minds with a fluent 79 while former Barbados captain Kirk Edwards chipped in with 39 and Roland Cato, 29.
No such dominance was envisioned when Taryck Gabriel perished cheaply on the stroke of the first hour for three with 10 runs on the board, caught at short leg off off-spinner Ashley Nurse.
But Smith emerged from a cautious start to anchor three outstanding partnerships and ensure Volcanoes dominated virtually all three sessions.
First, he put on 67 for the second wicket with Roland Cato who struck six fours in a 54-ball innings before falling on the stroke of lunch, caught at point off pacer Shamar Springer.
Smith then added 96 with Edwards whose knock came from 70 balls and included six fours, as Volcanoes reached tea without further loss on 151 for two.
When Edwards perished in the seventh over following the break, Smith and Ambris put on a further 141 for the fourth wicket, to heap more misery on the hosts.
Ambris counted nine fours off 109 deliveries in just under 2-¼ hours at the crease before becoming one of two wickets to fall in the space of 16 balls late in the day.
