NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Combined Campuses & Colleges were within sight of a historic, maiden victory over Leeward Islands in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.
Kjorn Ottley hit the top score of 84 and Romel Currency made 56, as the CCC, leading by 100 on first innings, were dismissed for 269 about 10 minutes past the scheduled tea break at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Carlos Brathwaite then snared two wickets for 23 runs from six overs, as Leewards, chasing 370 for victory, finished the third day of the third round match on 70 for five.
The CCC have never won, much less taken first innings lead against the Leewards in a WICB Regional first-class match in four tries since their entry into the competition three years ago.
But Brathwaite gained two lbw verdicts to dismiss opener Montcin Hodge for three, and Leewards captain Steve Liburd for four to set the ball rolling for the visitors in their quest to create their own piece of history.
Kevin McClean tightened the screws, when he had Shane Burton also lbw for 19 before wicketkeeper Kyle Corbin held two catches in the final half-hour to give the CCC a firm grip.
Left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh had Tonito Willett caught behind for five, and left-arm medium-fast bowler Raymon Reifer had Omari Banks caught behind also for 26 to bring the curtain down on another absorbing day.
Leewards will bat one man short, after opener Kieran Powell fractured his left-hand while trying to take a slip catch. Medical specialists indicate that he will be out of action for two to three weeks.
Earlier, Ottley shared in two significant partnerships to put the CCC in charge. He added 110 for the second wicket with Currency, and 76 either side of lunch with Corbin, who made 46.
When Corbin was caught at long-off off leg-spinner Anthony Martin, it triggered a collapse that saw the CCC slump to 202 for seven.
Off-spinner Justin Athanaze then had Ottley caught at slip, the same way he accounted for Nkrumah Bonner for a duck, the same score for which Brathwaite fell off the off-spinner, who ended with three for 58 from 21 overs.
In between, Martin had Raymon Reifer caught behind for a duck, and finished with two for 75 from 19 overs.
But a stand of 67 for the eighth wicket between McClean and fellow left-hander Floyd Reifer added beef to the CCC innings.
McClean got 34 and Reifer made 29 before Willett, bowling his steady medium-pace, returned to blow away the tail of the CCC batting, capturing three for 30 from 8.1 overs.
