(CMC) – Windward Islands Volcanoes captain Alick Athanaze struck his second hundred of the season to surpass 500 runs while Kofi James converted his overnight fifty into triple figures for Leeward Islands Hurricanes, as the two teams remained locked in a tense battle on the second day of the fourth round of the West Indies Championship.
The left-handed Athanaze, who toured South Africa with West Indies for the recent two-Test series but did not play, struck a breezy, unbeaten 105 as Volcanoes finished on 206 for two in reply to Hurricanes’ challenging 382 for nine declared at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad yesterday.
Kavem Hodge was also eyeing a fourth first class hundred on 85 not out, already having put on 196 for the second wicket with Athanaze to pull the innings around from potential crisis at 10 for two.
In Trinidad’s capital Port of Spain, reigning champions Barbados Pride were in command against home side Red Force after turning their overnight 40 without loss into 271 all out – a lead of 68 on first innings.
The hosts were struggling at 31 for two in their second innings.
At the Guyana National Stadium in Georgetown, hosts Harpy Eagles carved out a large overall lead of 301 runs after they were dismissed for 278 in their first innings and then bowled Jamaica Scorpions out for a hugely disappointing 110.
Harpy Eagles rammed home their advantage by reaching 138 for four in their second innings with Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 60.
James, meanwhile, unbeaten at the start on 61, struck 107 as Hurricanes added a further 111 to their overnight 271 for six, before declaring their first innings about 35 minutes after lunch.
Karima Gore, unbeaten overnight on 87 fell short of triple figures with 93 while Jeremiah Louis arrived at number nine to blast 45 from 70 balls with three fours and two sixes.
When Gore fell inside the first 45 minutes to end his 167-run seventh wicket stand with James, Louis combined with James to put on 71 and push the total beyond the 350-run mark.
The 25-year-old James, in only his fifth first class match, struck 10 fours and a six off 248 balls in just over five hours at the crease.
In reply, Volcanoes were quickly in strife when Teddy Bishop (4) and Keron Cottoy (0) perished cheaply before Athanaze and Hodge steered the innings safely to tea on 65 for two and then flourishing thereafter.
Athanaze, who now has 527 runs for the campaign, has counted 15 fours and a six off 117 balls in just under three hours while Hodge has faced 145 deliveries in a shade over three hours and struck a dozen fours.
At Queen’s Park Oval, Pride were carried by opener Zachary McCaskie who made a patient 92, and all-rounder Roshon Primus who chipped in with a positive 53. McCaskie extended his opening stand with Sheyne Moseley (25) to 69, added 33 for the second wicket with debutant Rashawn Worrell (2) before posting a further 39 for the fifth with Kevin Wickham (27) and 33 for the sixth with Primus.
The 26-year-old McCaskie, in his fourth first class outing, faced 197 balls in nearly 4-¼ hours and counted 10 fours.
Primus, meanwhile, lashed four fours and a six in a 41-run, seventh wicket stand with Akeem Jordan who made a swift 26 from 25 balls with three fours and a six.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed four for 86 while West Indies fast bowler Anderson Phillip claimed two for 80 on return from injury.
Fast bowler Jordan (2-6) then prised out both openers Vikash Mohan (3) and Amir Jangoo (2) cheaply to leave Red Force tottering on eight for two at one stage in their second innings.
There was also success for Harpy Eagles, captain Leon Johnson finishing unbeaten on 150 after resuming the morning on 142 with his side on 268 for nine.
Bottom-of-the-table Scorpions then showed little fight, new ball seamer Nial Smith ripping through the innings with five for 39 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul supporting with three for 22.
Scorpions were tottering on 24 for six at one stage before number eight Derval Green top-scored with 42 and last man Nicholson Gordon chipped with an unbeaten 22, to get the innings into triple figures.
Fast bowler Marquino Mindley hit back for Scorpions, producing a terrific spell of four for 30 to reduce Harpy Eagles to 33 for four before Chanderpaul and Imlach combined in a fifth wicket stand of 105 to halt the slide.
Chanderpaul has faced 162 deliveries in nearly 3-¼ hours and punched nine fours while Imlach has struck five fours off 92 balls in 142 minutes at the crease.