KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Barbados Pride were left desperately needing wickets on today’s final day after Kavem Hodge’s eighth first class half-century put Windward Islands Volcanoes in sight of victory on the third day of their eighth round match at the Arnos Vale Stadium.
Set 270 for victory, the hosts closed on 181 for three with the enterprising Hodge unbeaten on 65 and Roland Cato on 26 not out.
The pair have so far posted a precious 42 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand, which frustrated the visitors and also put their side within 89 runs of victory.
Test batsman Sunil Ambris had earlier made a breezy 40 while veteran opener Devon Smith got 28.
Resuming the day on 135 for six, Pride added only 57 runs before they were dismissed for 192 in their second innings. Jomel Warrican, batting at number eight, provided most of the runs for the visitors with 44 off 113 balls with three fours.
Impressive seamer Ray Jordan took two of the last four wickets to fall to end with three for 21 while off-spinner Alick Athanaze claimed one more victim to finish with three for 37.
Faced with a difficult run chase, Volcanoes were set back early when they lost teenaged opener Kimani Melius to a catch at the wicket off Test seamer Miguel Cummins for four with 13 runs on the board.
But Hodge steadied the innings, first in a 67-run stand with Smith and then in a 59-run, third wicket partnership with Ambris, as left-arm spinner Warrican, who took eight wickets in the first innings, failed to muster the same threat. Smith spent 75 balls over his 28 with two fours before falling lbw to Warrican and Ambris appeared set for a half-century before he was taken at the wicket off pacer Shamar Springer, after facing 57 deliveries and striking four boundaries.
