GROS ISLET–Tyrone Theophile struck his maiden first class hundred to extend Trinidad and Tobago Red Force's misery in the WICB Professional Cricket League in St Lucia yesterday.
The right-hander carved out an attractive 136 which propelled Windward Islands Volcanoes to 388 for eight at the close on the opening day of the fifth round contest, and kept the visitors under the cosh at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Theophile faced 149 balls in just under 3-1/4 hours at the crease and struck 16 fours and four sixes, in an accomplished innings.
Keddy Lesporis came within sight of maiden regional hundred before falling for 83 while captain Liam Sebastien got 56.
Mervin Mathew, with an unbeaten 37 and Kenroy Peters, not out on 27, further frustrated Red Force at the end with an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 48.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan was the best bowler with three for 90 and got support from pacer Shannon Gabriel with three for 96.
Opting to bat first, the Windwards got a 43-run stand for the first wicket from Theophile and Devon Smith (16) before losing two quick wickets.
Smith was caught at the wicket off Gabriel who then removed Johnson Charles, bowled without scoring off the first ball he faced.
Theophile then posted 30 for the third wicket with Sunil Ambris (18) and 28 for the fourth wicket with Andre Fletcher (3) before inspiring two superb stands to take Red Force out of the game.
He put on 120 for the fifth wicket with Lesporis who hammered nine fours and a six off a mere 89 balls, before added a further 61 with Sebastien whose knock required 86 balls, 108 minutes and contained seven fours.
Red Force lies one from bottom in the six-team standings. CMC
scoreboard
?WINDWARDS 1st Innings
D Smith c wkp Katwaroo b Gabriel 16
T Theophile b Gabriel 136
J Charles b Gabriel 0
A Ambris C Ottley b Khan 18
+A Fletcher lbw b Richards 3
K Lesporis lbw b Khan 83
*L Sebastien lbw b Mohammed 56
S Shillingford c Solozano b Khan 7
M Matthew not out 34
K Peters not out 27
Extras (lb3, w2, nb3) 8
TOTAL (8 wkts, 90 overs) 388
To bat: D Johnson.
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-43, 3-73, 4-102, 5-221, 6-282, 7-298, 8-340.
Bowling: Gabriel 13-0-96-3, Richards 9-3-43-1, St Clair 6-0-34-0, Imran Khan 27-3-90-3, Ottley 8-0-31-0, Cariah 12-0-48-0, Mohammed 15-3-43-1.
Toss: Windwards.
Umpires: L Abraham, V Smith
Other scores
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BARBADOS PRIDE 182 for four (Kraigg Brathwaite 72, Roston Chase 28 not out, Shane Dowrich 27 not out) vs LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES.
Guyana Jaguars vs Jamaica Franchise
GUYANA JAGUARS 298 for eight (Veerasammy Permaul 75 not out, Anthony Bramble 47, Leon Johnson 41; Shiv Chanderpaul 29) vs JAMAICA FRANCHISE
