Motara leads as Academy dominate Leewards

Zishan Motara stood out with bat and ball as the West Indies Academy dominated the Leeward Islands this week, in a three-day warmup fixture played at Liberta in St John’s, Antigua & Barbuda. Both teams are preparing for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) four-day First Class Championship, which gets underway next week.

 

Leewards captain Jahmar Hamilton won the toss and opted to bat, but his men were undone by the Bajan trio of Motara, Johann Layne and Jediah Blades. The Leewards were dismissed for 163, and even that represented a recovery from 32-6.

 

Fast bowler Layne dismissed opener Kofi James and Shelton Forbes in the second over, the latter for a duck. Karima Gore and talented teen Jewel Andrew followed in the fifth over, left-arm quick Blades taking both for duck. Layne got the skipper in the eighth over to reduce the Leewards to 25-5. Nathan Edward took Cameron Pennyfeather for nought in the 13th.

 

Demari Benta and opener Kadeem Henry added 40 for the seventh wicket, before Motara separated them with the score on 72. Louis (24) and Henry put on 48 for the eighth wicket. Louis was dismissed by Mavindra Dindylal, soon to be followed by Keon Harding’s removal for two, thanks to Motara.

 

An unbeaten innings of 72 from Henry at the top of the order held the Leewards innings together. He hit eight fours and two sixes, facing 153 deliveries in a patient knock. Colin Archibald chipped in with 22, including three boundaries.

 

Layne took 3-11 from five overs. Blades had 2-19 from 10 overs. And Motara took 2-39 from 12 overs.

 

The Academy were indebted to their lower order batters in getting to 245, but they also had a stronger platform than their opponents.

 

Justin Jagessar was out for seven, Teddy Bishop for 17, and Rivaldo Clarke nine. Ackeem Auguste and Carlon Tucket put on 25, but Auguste’s departure for 27 brought Dindylal to the crease. He and Tucket put on 58 for the fifth wicket, eventually going for 37 and 36.

 

Michael Palmer (16), Nathan Edward (4), and Johann Layne (0) offered little resistance to leave the Academy at 164-9, just past the Leewards’ total.

 

Motara and McKenny Clarke set about a 90-run partnership, however. Clarke played just 49 balls for his 45, hitting six fours and a six. Motara, unbeaten on an even 50, faced 47 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.

 

Chamequiko Landerfort ended with 3-50 from 11 overs. Demari Benta took 2-22 from seven overs. Jeremiah Louis, Keon Harding, Cameron Pennyfeather, and Onaje Amory took a wicket apiece for the Leewards.

 

In their second turn at bat, Layne and Blades again had the Leewards in early trouble. Blades bowled Joshua Grant for eight in the fifth over. Layne trapped Kofi James leg before wicket seven balls later for 10.

 

This time, the Leewards recovered more quickly, with back-to-back 30-run collaborations, but ended the innings and the match on 152-8. Karima Gore top-scored with 31, whilst Jewel Andrew made 27, and Jeremiah Louis was unbeaten 17.

 

Motara finished the second innings with 2-38 from eight overs. Nathan Edward was the top wicket-taker with 3-24 from six. Michael Palmer ended with 1-18 from three.

 

The West Indies Academy and Leeward Islands Hurricanes open the Championship next Wednesday at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua & Barbuda.

(TF)