NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Tonito Willett’s 51 and stubborn lower-order resistance failed to stop Combined Campuses & Colleges from claiming first innings points over Leeward lslands in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.
Willett struck five fours and one six from 89 balls, as Leewards, replying to CCC’s first innings total of 286, were dismissed for 186 inside the first hour after tea on the second day of their third round match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The CCC reached 47 for one in their second innings at the close, and will take an overall lead of 147 with nine second innings wickets standing into Sunday’s third day.
CCC captain Omar Phillips fell just before the close, when Gavin Tonge trapped him lbw for seven.
Earlier, Leewards stumbled to 125 for eight after lunch, but Willett added 59 for the ninth wicket with Lionel Baker, whose 37 was a first-class career best.
The CCC pacers, led by Kevin McClean with two wickets for 36 runs from 16 overs, had undermined the Leewards top-order batting.
Carlos Brathwaite made the breakthrough, when he removed Montcin Hodge for four, and McClean scalped Kieran Powell for 13 to leave Leewards 25 for two.
The CCC met resistance, when Steve Liburd, the Leewards captain, joined Shane Burton, and they added 49 for the third wicket to stem the fall of wickets.
But Raymond Reifer bowled Liburd for 27 in the last half-hour before Leewards went into lunch at 73 for three.
After lunch, the CCC continued to work their way through the Leewards batting, with the spinners taking the central role.
After McClean had Burton caught behind for 20, leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner and off-spinner Ryan Austin, as well as a needless run out, sent the Leewards sliding to 163 for eight at tea.
Bonner had Omari Banks caught close to the wicket for 10, Jahmar Hamilton was run out for a duck, Austin had Justin Athanaze also caught close to the wicket, and Bonner struck again to trap Gavin Tonge lbw for six.
