BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Fourteen wickets tumbled as title hopefuls Barbados Pride grabbed the edge over Leeward Islands Hurricanes, on the opening day of their crucial final round game here yesterday.
Opting to bat first, Hurricanes slumped to 119 all out, half-hour before tea at Warner Park and Pride finished the day on 145 for four – a lead of 26 runs heading into day two.
The visitors were 84 for one at one stage but lost unnecessary wickets – three for 21 runs – towards the end to concede some of their advantage.
Opener Omar Phillips has so far top-scored with 42 while partner and captain Kraigg Brathwaite chipped in with 31 and Test player Shai Hope, 27.
Roston Chase, unbeaten on 22 at the end and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, 17 not out, have so far put on 40 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand to stem the tide of wickets.
Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall has taken three for 50, to be the most successful bowler.
Earlier, Hurricanes struggled after taking first knock as Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, with three for 33, and fast bowler Kemar Roach, with two for 21, destroyed the innings.
Pacer Miguel Cummins picked up for 30.
Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton continued his good form with 42 while the returning Kieran Powell, in his second innings of the season, followed up his half-century last weekend with 33.
However, they were only two of four in double figures and the only two to pass 20.
Hurricanes seemed to be recovering at 41 for two after Keacy Carty (2) and Montcin Hodge (1) perished cheaply, but they lost three wickets for just five runs to crash to 46 for five.
The left-handed Powell was again fluent, carving out five fours and a six off 45 balls before he was third out, caught at leg slip by Jonathan Carter off part-time off-spinner Chase.
Hamilton then anchored the two best stands of the innings, putting on 34 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall (11) and adding a further 28 for the seventh wicket with Jacques Taylor (11).
He faced 91 balls in 103 minutes and struck four fours and a six before he was seventh out.
In reply, Phillips and Brathwaite gave Pride a handy start, adding 64 for the first wicket.
The left-handed Phillips counted seven fours and a six off 70 balls while the right-handed Brathwaite faced 77 balls and gathered three fours.
Phillips was first to fall, edging off-spinner Jacques Taylor to Cornwall at slip and four overs later, Brathwaite followed, playing back to Cornwall and going lbw.
Shamarh Brooks lasted 11 balls before falling to a catch at mid-wicket by Powell off Cornwall and Hope was caught at the wicket, also off Cornwall, after facing 42 balls and hitting four fours.
