ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Jonathan Drakes struck his maiden first class hundred to give Barbados Pride a chance at victory against Guyana Harpy Eagles, in their fourth round match in the West Indies Championship.
Resuming yesterday’s third morning here at Coolidge Cricket Ground on 20 not out with Pride on 59 for three in their first innings, the 29-year-old carved out 101 to lift his side to 230 all out.
Drakes faced 204 balls and struck 13 fours, and was the linchpin of the Pride innings as wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich was the only other batsman to pass 20 with 41.
Trailing Harpy Eagles by 206 runs on first innings, Pride then reduced Harpy Eagles to 136 for eight declared, Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claiming three for 32 to hurt the innings.
Fast bowlers Jair McAllister (2-21) and Chemar Holder (2-40) supported with two wickets apiece as Harpy Eagles never really recovered after sliding to 32 for three.
Kevlon Anderson top-scored with 33 while Kevin Sinclair (25) and Veerasammy Permaul (24) chipped in to extend the life of the innings.
Set 343 for victory, Pride ended on 31 without loss with Zachary McCaskie unbeaten on 18 and captain Kraigg Brathwaite on eight.
On 89 for five after former Test captain Jason Holder (4) nicked off to second slip off seamer Nial Smith (3-54), Pride recovered courtesy of a 68-run sixth wicket stand between Drakes and Dowrich.
When Dowrich and Test star Kemar Roach (0) perished in the space of five balls to leave the innings on 158 for seven, Drakes again countered in a 41-run, seventh wicket partnership with Warrican (13).
Batting a second time, Harpy Eagles always lacked stability and needed Anderson to stitch together two critical stands – 36 for the fourth with Sinclair and 29 for the fifth with Kemol Savory (22 not out) – to hold things together.
At Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, Sunil Ambris and Jeremy Solozano both struck half-centuries to rescue leaders Windward Islands Volcanoes and place them in a winning position.
On 68 for two at the start, Volcanoes slipped to 151 for five before recovering to post 288 in their second innings.
Ambris struck 71, facing 97 balls and belting nine fours and a six while opener Solozano, on 30 overnight, struck 11 fours off 192 deliveries.
Solozano stretched his third wicket stand with captain Alick Athanaze (28) to 59 before adding a further 42 for the fourth wicket with Ambris.
The 30-year-old Ambris then posted 71 for the sixth wicket with Shamar Springer (40) who in turn added 32 for the seventh with Ryan John (34) before Volcanoes lost their last three wickets for just four runs.
Set 186 to win, Red Force slumped to 10 for two at the close, still requiring a further 172 on Saturday’s final day.
At the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground at UWI St Augustine also in Trinidad, Yannick Ottley missed out on a second first class hundred with 99 as Combined Campuses and Colleges carried their overnight second innings position of 76 for three to 301 all out.
When the innings crashed to 76 for four early in the day, Ottley put on 36 for the fifth wicket with Roshon Primus (23), 74 for the sixth wicket with Ordain McCatty (37) and 64 for the ninth with Zishan Motara (30).
All told, Ottley struck seven fours and two sixes off 260 deliveries, as off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall finished with four for 62 and seamer Jeremiah Louis, three for 59. Asked to chase 316 for victory, Leeward Islands Hurricanes ended on 15 without loss.
At Sabina Park in Jamaica, hosts Scorpions were facing a run chase of 234 on Saturday’s final day after dismissing CWI Academy for 281 in their second innings. Carlon Bowen Tuckett (53) and opener Kadeem Alleyne (52) struck half-centuries while Joshua James supported with 36 down the order, along with Ashmead Nedd who made 30.
Leg-spinner Abhijai Mansingh finished with four for 70 while off-spinner Peat Salmon picked up three for 55.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop claimed six for 96 as Scorpions were dismissed for 372 after resuming on 326 for seven. Salmon, unbeaten overnight on 60, top-scored on 81, an innings that required 198 balls and included eight fours and a six.
