… Pride battle to slim lead over Scorpions

Jonathan Drakes carved out a second straight hundred to give Barbados Pride the edge on an attritional day two of their third round clash against Jamaica Scorpions in the West Indies Championship on Thursday.

The right-hander struck 108 as the hosts, replying to Scorpions’ first innings of 231, were dismissed for 293 at Kensington Oval, to earn a lead of 62 runs.

At the close, Scorpions were 26 for one in their second innings, and still training Pride by 36 runs heading into Friday’s penultimate day.

The 30-year-old Drakes took centre stage, producing a knock which contained nine fours, required 202 balls and lasted a smidgeon under 4-¼ hours. His performance came on the heels of his 117 in last week’s second round against West Indies Academy, marking his third first class hundred.

His enterprise was desperately needed by Pride after they resumed the morning on nine without loss but quickly slumped to 62 for four, as off-spinner Brad Barnes ripped through the top order to finish with six for 94 in only his fourth first class outing.

Captain Kraigg Brathewaite (31) and opening partner Zachary McCaskie (11) stretched their first wicket stand to 45 before they fell in successive overs. McCaskie skied a reckless heave at Barnes and was caught at mid-off and Brathwaite followed when he dragged on a pull to part-time pacer Jermaine Blackwood.

Kevin Wickham (7) missed a pull and was lbw to Barnes who then removed Demetrius Richards (2) to a catch at mid-wicket, the left-hander attempting to hit out.

Wickham found an ally in Leniko Boucher, however, the wicketkeeper hitting 55 from 71 balls with five fours to help post a crucial 108 for the fifth wicket, to get Pride to lunch on 122 for four without further loss.

When Boucher pulled a long hop from leg-spinner Tamarie Redwood and was caught low down at mid-wicket, Drakes partnered with Matthew Forde (26) to put on a further 58 for the sixth wicket, and get Pride within touching distance of the lead.

The momentum shifted again when Forde and Kemar Roach (2) perished with only seven runs added to leave the hosts 235 for seven but Drakes intervened once more, inspiring 30 for the eighth wicket with Test star Jomel Warrican (12).

Unbeaten on 37 at lunch, Drakes reached his half-century with a couple to cover, and was on 87 at tea as Pride marched 231 for six. He brought up triple figures in the seventh over after the resumption with a cover-driven boundary off Barnes, before he was finally ninth out, lbw playing across to Barnes.

(BT)