GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Left-handed opener Devon Smith struck his 33rd first class hundred and the fourth of an already phenomenal season, to once against prop up Windward Islands Volcanoes on the opening day of their day/night seventh round clash with Jamaica Scorpions.
The veteran batsman carried his bat for 107 as Volcanoes, sent in on Thursday’s opening day, battled to 226 for nine before declaring their first innings under lights at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground.
In reply, Scorpions were 33 without loss with left-hander John Campbell racing to an unbeaten 29 off 30 balls with five fours.
It was the 36-year-old Smith, however, who took centre stage with his 27th regional four-day hundred which saw him pass 700 runs for the season.
The knock also saw him join the quartet of Desmond Haynes (1991), Carl Hooper (2001), Junior Murray (2002) and Ridley Jacobs (2005) as those with four hundreds in a single season of the modern first class championship.
Smith’s endeavours represented an unprecedented fifth time that he has carried his bat in an innings.
The former West Indies player faced 247 balls in a patient innings, striking six fours and a six, adding 98 with another former Windies batsman Kirk Edwards, to salvage the innings from a position of 37 for two.
Edwards made 57 that included nine fours from 98 balls, but no other batsman reached 20.
Left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont was the best bowler with four for 52.
