BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Devon Smith’s bid at history proved anticlamatic when he suffered the indiginity of a one-ball ‘duck’ on the opening day of Windward Islands Volcanoes’ final round match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes here Thursday.
Entering the day/night fixture at Warner Park requiring 56 runs to become only the fourth batsman to score 1 000 runs in a Regional first class season, the veteran left-hander was caught at the wicket off the first ball of the match from seamer Jeremiah Louis, to leave his shot at the landmark in jeopardy.
It was the third time this season Smith failed to score and it also left his bid to break the record for the most runs in a season – he now needs 125 runs – in doubt.
Smith’s dismissal triggered a slide that saw Volcanoes crash to 10 for three in the fifth over of the evening but they recovered enough before being dismissed for 197.
In reply, Hurricanes reached the close strongly on 93 for two – requiring a further 104 runs to overhaul their target.
Opting to bat first, Volcanoes were bailed out by tail-ender Delorn Johnson who top-scored with an aggressive 48 while Roland Cato got 46 and Kavem Hodge, 45
Hodge and Cato mounted the first set of resistance, posting 65 for the fourth wicket, to steer the visitors up to 75 without further loss.
The in-form Hodge struck seven fours in a 58-ball innings while Cato was patient in a 122-ball knock which included six boundaries.
When three wickets tumbled for 14 runs to leave Volcanoes on 89 for six, Cato combined with Johnson to add a further 73 for the seventh wicket.
Johnson blasted five fours and three sixes in a cameo which required 53 balls.
Off-spinners Terrance Ward (2-20), Chaim Holder (2-29) and Rahkeem Cornwall (2-46) all finished with two wickets each while seamer Louis picked up two for 28.
Hurricanes were then wobbling on 12 for two in the fourth over of the innings after pacer Sherman Lewis knocked over captain Kieran Powell (3) and Keacy Carty (0) in the space of three deliveries.
But Devon Smith struck an unbeaten 56 – his 17th first class half-century – while opener Montcin Hodge scored 31 not out, the pair sharing an unbroken 81-run, third wicket stand to repair the innings.
Smith has so far counted six fours and a six, and faced 92 balls.
