BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Twenty-year-old opener Kieran Powell stroked his maiden first class century but it failed to prevent Leeward Islands from an innings defeat at the hands of England Lions here yesterday.
The flashy left-hander hit 131 as the Leewards, responding to the Lions’ massive 553 for six declared, were dismissed for 306 on the third day of their first round Regional First Class Championship clash at Warner Park.
Asked to follow on 247 runs behind, the Leewards collapsed to 127 all out, to lose by an innings and 20 runs.
Fast bowler Jade Dernbach was the architect of the hosts’ demise, snapping up five for 16 in a devastating spell.
Earlier, Powell led the Leewards resistance after resuming the day unbeaten on 82, with his side on 148 for two.
He reached his century with a tickle off his hip for four as Leewards pressed on but then lost captain Steve Liburd for 30, caught at second slip off Ravi Bopara’s first ball of the day, after adding just nine to his overnight score.
Omari Banks (1) was lbw to seamer James Harris (2-75) offering no stroke at 182 for four and wickets fell steadily until Powell also perished, caught at mid-on off Dernbach (2-87)
Gavin Tonge hit a cameo 38 from 22 balls with five fours and two sixes to underpin a whirlwind 61-run, eighth wicket stand with Justin Athanaze (25), to push the Leewards beyond 300.
There were no heroics in the second innings, however, as Leewards flopped spectacularly.
Powell got 27 from 24 balls with six fours but when he was trapped lbw by Harris at 32 for three, a clatter of wickets followed to leave the hosts in dire straits at 55 for seven.
Athanaze (42 not out) and Tonge (30) again attempted a rescue mission with a 48-run eighth wicket partnership but the task proved well beyond them.
