The Leeward Islands reached 254 – 5 at the end of the first day’s play of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day, first-class competition against the Windward Islands at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, yesterday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Leewards batted for 94 overs with Montcin Hodge top scoring with a patient 61.
Omari Banks and Wilden Cornwall are at the crease not out on 18 and 23 respectively.
The Leewards batsmen batted cautiously in the first two sessions but picked up the pace after the tea interval against a very disciplined bowling attack which was not backed up by the fielders on occasion.
Mali Richards, who opened the batting with Hodge, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Lyndon James for 12 off the off-spinner Shane Shillingford with the score on 22.
Nevisian left-hander Kieran Powell and Hodge then put on 69 for the second wicket before Powell fell for 48 which included seven fours from 71 balls.
Gavin Williams batted solidly for 44 before he was leg before wicket to Nelon Pascal for 44. Williams’ innings was decorated with seven boundaries and he batted for 107 minutes.
Hodge soon followed as he tried to trickle a delivery down to fine leg but was caught by wicket-keeper James off Deighton Butler.
The solid right-handed opening batsman faced 212 balls and batted for 248 minutes.
Steve Liburd (39) and Banks took the score past 200 in the 79th over of the day before Liburd departed with the score on 229.
This brought Cornwall to the crease. He was in a no-nonsense mood and soon raced past Banks’ score before the close.
Shillingford, 2 – 73 from 28 overs was the pick of the bowlers while Rawl Lewis, Pascal and Butler picked up one wicket each for Windwards.
Scoreboard
LEEWARDS 1st Innings
M Hodge c wkp James b Butler 61
M Richards c wkp James b Shillingford 12
K Powell c Butler b Lewis 48
G Williams lbw b Pascal 44
*S Liburd lbw b Shillingford 39
O Banks not out 18
W Cornwall not out 23
Extras (lb4, nb5) 9
TOTAL (for 5 wickets – 94 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-91, 3-167, 4-173, 5-229
Bowling: Pascal 14-4-32-1 (2nb); Butler 11-3-28-1; Shillingford 28-6-73-2; Peters 8-0-31-0; Lewis 19-3-63-1 (3nb); Sebastien 14-3-23-0
Toss: Leewards
Umpires: Clyde Duncan, Colin Alfred
