BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Windward Islands Volcanoes were eyeing victory after dominating the third day of their final round encounter in the West Indies Championship yesterday.
At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Volcanoes seized control after setting reigning champions Barbados Pride a victory target of 236 and then reducing them to 28 for three at the close.
Resuming the morning precariously perched on 14 for four in their second innings – a lead of only 24 runs – Volcanoes were rescued by former Test batsman Sunil Ambris who top-scored with an invaluable 79 as they reached 225 all out.
Yet to score at the start, the right-hander held the innings together in a knock that required 141 balls and nearly 3-¾ hours, and included nine fours and a six.
He anchored two significant half-century stands – a 77-run fifth wicket partnership with Kavem Hodge who made 27 and then a 69-run, sixth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott who struck 35.
Volcanoes lost only one wicket in the morning session – that of Hodge who resumed the morning on four – the right-hander bowled by fast bowler Jair McCallister (2-21). Ambris, unbeaten on 52 at the interval with Volcanoes on 102 for five, was one of two wickets to fall in the second session, lbw to West Indies fast bowling prospect Akeem Jordan (2-59) at 172 for seven.
Ryan John then propped up the lower order, belting an unbeaten 37 from 67 deliveries with four fours and a six.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican added another two wickets to his haul to end with four for 58.
Faced with a tricky chase, Pride’s top order fell apart quickly as Zachary McCaskie (0), first innings century-maker Shayne Moseley (10) and rookie Rashawn Worrell (8) all perished cheaply.
