Morton was undefeated on 192 – his second hundred of the season against the Barbadians – to propel Leewards to an amazing 410 for eight in their first innings at the close on the opening day of their 11th round match.
West Indies discard Morton had featured in the first leg match of the competition in the third round at the Carib Lumber Park in St. Maarten in late January, when he scored 82 and 102 in a losing cause.
But Morton found the conditions, the size of the ground, and the bowling to his liking, and laid into the Barbadian attack to reach his hundred from 139 balls, although he was hobbled by a groin strain which required him to use a runner after lunch.
He reached the milestone, when he smote Kevin Stoute for his first six, a marvellous, lofted straight hit that scattered the birds and anything else in the vicinity of one of the trees that line the northern edge of the quaint little ground in the northern Barbados, rural community.
“I know the Bajans like to play competitive cricket and I love a challenge so I guess that’s why I probably have done so well against them,” said Morton, following his innings that last a little over 6-1/2 hours in which he struck 28 fours and two sixes from 273 balls.
“Right now, I am just looking to enjoy my cricket and do my best for the Leewards. I will just continue to perform, and leave it to the selectors to decide.”
Several other Leewards batsmen got starts, but all failed to follow the example of Morton and carry on purposefully – Codville Rogers scored 44, Tonito Willett and Steve Liburd both made 29, and Devon Thomas and Wilden Cornwall each got 25.
Corey Collymore has taken two wickets for 76 runs from 14 overs, and Kevin Stoute captured two for 77 from 21 overs.
Choosing to bat on a typically hard, true North Stars Social & Cultural Club pitch, the Leewards recovered from a shaky start and rampaged to 126 for three at lunch.
