ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Recent West Indies Test newcomer Kevin Sinclair underlined his all-round talents with a majestic maiden first-class hundred that put defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles firmly on course for victory against hosts Cricket West Indies Academy in the West Indies Championship yesterday.
Sinclair cracked 26 fours from 182 balls in an undefeated 165 that spanned close to five hours and propelled the Harpy Eagles to 415 for seven declared in their second innings on the third day of their third-round match in Antigua.
He returned to grab two for 30 from 11 overs with his off-spin, and the CWI Academy, chasing a highly improbable, if not impossible 429 to win, were wobbling on 161 for seven in their second innings when stumps were drawn.
A half-century from Jyd Goolie led consistent batting down the order for Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and they reached 285 for six in their second innings – a lead of 104 – against hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes in another intriguing battle in neighbouring St Kitts.
AT COOLIDGE CRICKET GROUND: Sinclair resumed from his overnight score of 16 and dominated three significant stands with Kemol Savory, Ronaldo Alimohamed, and Veerasammy Permaul to put the Harpy Eagles in charge after they gained a narrow first innings lead the previous day.
He defied a destructive spell from Guyanese left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, son of Harpy Eagles assistant coach Gavin Nedd, to put on 109 with Savory for the sixth wicket, added 77 with Alimohamed for the seventh wicket, and shared an unbroken stand off 100 with Permaul for the eighth wicket.
Savory made 58, Alimohamed supported with 31, and Permaul was not out on 29, after the Harpy Eagles continued from their overnight total of 165 for five.
The younger Nedd, a former West Indies Under-19 spinner, was the pick of the CWI Academy bowlers, taking five for 97 from 45 overs after opening the bowling the previous afternoon, after the Harpy Eagles had rolled his side for 162, reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 175.
Sinclair shared the new ball with West Indies Under-19 pacer Isai Thorne and bowled Barbadian left-hander opener Rashawn Worrell in his second over to set back the emerging players’ squad early in their chase.
Thorne removed former West Indies Under-19 captains Ackeem Auguste and Teddy Bishop, as well as the unrelated Joshua Bishop for single-digit scores in a menacing opening spell that had the CWI Academy rocking on 27 for four.
Mbeki Joseph returned after earlier retiring hurt to take them past 50, but Alimohamed got him caught behind for 13 before Carlon Bowen-Tuckett joined left-hander Jordan Johnson and put 58 for the sixth wicket to get them past 100.
Jordan struck seven fours and one six in 52 from 77 balls in a little over two hours at the crease before Sinclair trapped him lbw and West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie removed Joshua James for 26 a little before the close.
Bowen-Tuckett, son of former Hurricanes and West Indies all-rounder, now a senior umpire, Carl Tuckett, was not out on 34.
AT WARNER PARK: A resolute 64 from Goolie, and his successive half-century stands with Jason Mohammed and Tion Webster set the tone for the rest of the Red Force batting after they continued from their overnight total of 48 without loss, still 133 behind on first innings.
Mohammed supported with 49, Webster made 38, Cephas Cooper got 36, Terrance Hinds supplied 34, Red Force captain and West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva was not out on 32 not out, and opener Vikash Mohan added 25.
Burly Hurricanes captain and champion off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall ended the day with three for 56 from 29 overs, and pacer Jeremiah Louis took two for 70 from 18 overs.
Red Force were set back almost immediately when Mohan was lbw to Louis with the first ball of the day, and Hurricanes did not have to wait long for further success when Cornwall held a return catch to dismiss Cooper.
The visitors were 68 for two, and Mohammed joined Goolie to carry them to 102 for two at lunch and stoutly resisted further on an even pitch after the interval to share 68 for the third wicket.
Cornwall trapped Mohammed lbw a little before the afternoon drinks break, and Webster came to the crease and carried Red Force to 186 for three at tea.
Webster stuck around long enough after the break to carry Red Force past 200 in a stand of 72 for the fourth wicket with Goolie before he fell to Louis in the fourth over after tea.
Cornwall soon after bowled Goolie, but Hinds came out and put on 56 in quick time for the sixth wicket with Da Silva before left-arm spinner Daniel Doran got him caught behind in the final half-hour of play.