GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Windward Islands were in a position to force a win on today’s final day after three quick wickets late Monday gave them control of their first round encounter against Combined Campuses and Colleges in the Regional Four-Day Championship.
Cantering along at 141 for three after being led by exactly 100 on first innings, CCC lost three wickets for 15 runs off 39 deliveries, to limp to 187 for six at the close of the third day at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Chadwick Walton stroked an entertaining 88 while captain Kyle Corbin scored 31 but off-spinner Shane Shillingford (2-55) removed both to help restrict the CCC to an overall lead of just 87 runs.
Earlier, the Windwards pushed their overnight 303 for five to 409 all out, thanks to a handsome knock of 77 from Dalton Polius.
The left-hander faced 143 balls in 201 minutes at the crease, counting 11 boundaries as he chalked up his maiden first class half-century.
His knock was especially critical after the Windwards lost captain Lyndon James for 26 with just seven runs added to the overnight score, caught at slip by his opposite number Corbin off off-spinner Ryan Austin (2-106)
Polius, however, combined with Shillingford to put on 87 runs for the seventh wicket, and further solidify the Windwards’ position.
Starting the day on 29, Polius batted sensibly to anchor his side’s innings before he was ninth out just after lunch, edging an away swinger from medium pacer Raymond Reifer to the wicketkeeper.
Shillingford, meanwhile, hit three fours and two sixes in an innings that lasted 76 deliveries.
Reifer picked up three of the five wickets to fall to finish with three for 38 while leg-spinner Akeem Dewar claimed four for 127.
CCC were immediately in trouble, crashing to nine for two as openers Shacaya Thomas (5) and Anthony Alleyne (0) perished cheaply.
Two partnerships then hauled the CCC out of trouble with Walton and Corbin adding 87 for the third wicket and Walton and Raymon Reifer (19) putting on a further 45 for the fourth wicket.
Walton struck nine fours and three sixes off 117 balls in 146 minutes at the crease while Corbin faced 54 balls and counted three fours.
Once Corbin was lbw to Shillingford at 96 for three and Raymon Reifer was taken at point by Garey Mathurin off Polius at 141 for four, the CCC innings went into decline.
