First day dominance

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Defending champions Barbados Pride took command of their encounter against Windward Islands Volcanoes today, dismissing them for 203 and then marching to 109 for one in reply in a crucial game of the Regional First Class Championship at the Diego Martin Complex.

Teddy Bishop top-scored with 44 for Volcanoes who lost wickets steadily, undermined by seamer Ramon Simmonds (3-25) and off-spinner Roston Chase (3-46). Raymon Reifer led Pride’s reply, stroking a breezy unbeaten 56 off 53 balls to ensure Pride only trailed by 94 at the close.

Not for the first time this season, Volcanoes were let down by their woeful batting, losing wickets steadily after choosing to bat first and finding themselves all out, six overs after resumption from tea.

Denis Smith (19) and Devon Smith (11) started solidly with 28 for the first wicket before the veteran left-hander had his defence breached by Chase and being bowled. It was a familiar mode of dismissal for the former Test opener, whose vulnerable defence has seen him fall victim to a variety of off-spinners over the length of his career

Three wickets went down for 28 runs to leave Volcanoes on 56 for three but Bishop put on 30 for the fourth wicket with captain Kavem Hodge (26) and 27 for the fifth wicket with Ackeem Auguste (16) to steady the innings.

Bishop was sixth out, recklessly holing out to mid off off pacer Miguel Cummins (2-32) after facing 61 balls and hitting half-dozen fours and a six and thereafter, only Larry Edward with a patient 37 showed any grit.

In reply, Shayne Moseley failed once again for the tournament, perishing for seven with the score on 12 in the innings’ sixth over. He was caught at second slip driving at a wide delivery from pacer Ryan John.

But Reifer punched ten fours to dominate a 97-run, unbroken stand with captain Kraigg Brathwaite (39 not out) as Pride flourished. It was a fluent innings from the left-hander and a further audition to the selectors for a middle-order berth in the regional side to complement his left-arm medium-fast bowling.

Meanwhile, left-hander Paul Palmer struck a fourth first class hundred to help Jamaica Scorpions frustrate title challengers Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the opening day of their decisive round in the competition. Scorpions were reeling at 10 for three when the 30-year-old arrived to hit a career-best 143 not out and guide Scorpions to 302 all out at the close at the Brian Lara Stadium.

Palmer’s knock made all the difference, especially with Hurricanes entering this final round within touching distance of Barbados Pride. Scorpions lost Kirk McKenzie in the sixth over for three, patting a long hop from Jeremiah Louis to cover and Jermaine Blackwood followed in the ninth over also for three, driving a return catch to seamer Sheno Berridge (2-29).

When Blackwood’s Test teammate, opener John Campbell, needlessly flirted with a wide ball from Berridge and Kieran Powell at second slip parried a catch to Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip, Scorpions were in deep peril.

Palmer stepped up to rescue the innings, striking 17 fours and three sixes in an innings requiring 233 deliveries and nearly 5-½ hours.

Crucially, he put on 44 for the fourth wicket with Alwyn Williams (17), 58 for the sixth wicket with Aldaine Thomas (31) and 102 for the seventh wicket with Jamie Merchant who belted a cavalier 55 from 60 deliveries with half-dozen fours and three sixes.

Even when Merchant and Marquino Mindley (9) fell in quick succession to leave Scorpions on 234 for eight, Palmer found an ally in fast bowler Nicholson Gordon (20) to add a further 59 for the ninth wicket and get his side up to the crucial 300-run mark.

At the Queen’s Park Oval, Jeremy Solozano (72) and Jason Mohammed (68) propped up hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and helped them reach 203 for nine, after seamer Keemo Paul threatened to put Guyana Harpy Eagles in complete control with a spell of five for 41.

Yet again this season, Red Force suffered a spectacular collapse, losing seven wickets for 25 runs to decline from a strong position of 178 for three after choosing to bat first against Harpy Eagles.

Keagan Simmons played across a good length delivery from Paul and was bowled for three in the morning’s fifth over and fellow left-hander Isaiah Rajah was pinned lbw on his crease by off-spinner Kevin Sinclair for 26.

Solozano then combined with Mohammed in a 118-run, third wicket stand which seemed to be propelling the hosts to a competitive total.

Once Mohammed steered rookie pacer Demetri Cameron low to captain Leon Johnson at first slip after tea, however, Red Force’s innings fell apart.

Solozano followed soon after, advancing down to Gudakesh Motie and smashing a low return catch to the left-arm spinner. (CMC/WG)