GROS ISLET–Devon Smith was perhaps the only difference between the Windward Islands repeating a performance similar to that of the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) on Day 1 of the Round 1 Regional 4 Day Match in Gros Islet.
The students started Day 2 on 280/9 with tail-enders Jason Dawes and Ryan Austin clinging at the crease overnight. How the CCC collapsed on Day 1 remained a mystery as both batsmen looked very solid at the crease but for the odd rash shot. Dawes took the attack to Delorn Johnson and Nelon Pascal. Ryan Austin was the anchor of the partnership.
That lasted 40 minutes into the morning's play until Austin tried to heave Pascal over Tyronne Theophile at mid-on but failed to clear his man. It brought a quick end to the morning proceedings but Dawes' cameo of 27 had taken his team to 309.
The Windwards openers made that score look less than par. Like CCC twenty-four earlier, Smith and Theophile scored at a rapid rate, even faster than the five runs and over run rate Alleyne and company had posted a day earlier. Boundaries came and went, but it was down to blunders in the bowling that caused the run-rate to spiral put of control for CCC.
On a good batting track, they were much too short. Every time the student bowlers went short, Smith's quick hands would force a fielder to retrieve the ball beyond the boundary. Together, Smith and Theophile put on a 122 run opening stand. The partnership not only dropped the heads of the students and shorted the bowling, but also saw safety to lunch and drinks breaks. Both batsmen had crossed 50 around the same time. However, on 54, Theophile lost concentration. CCC were pressing hard for a wicket and were appealing for the slightest of reasons. Rather than the pressure get to the umpire, it had gotten to Theophile, who spooned an easy catch straight back to Dewar.
Andre Fletcher came in and there was no need to settle. The wicket had already done that for batsmen. You could hit through the line with confidence and come on the front foot. It didn't matter. Fletcher played his shots like it was a one day game, with the slightest of precautions every now and again. Together with Smith, the Windwards had built another big partnership. As the second session came to a close, Smith brought up his 20th First Class century. The home team went to Tea in a strong position of 199/1.
But like Day 1, the CCC had held the advantage straight up until the Tea break. It was a late rally from the Windwards that caused a dramatic collapse from three wickets down to nine wickets by stumps. The CCC were about to inflict one of their own. It wasn't great batting, but the Windwards slipped to 249/5 in a short period. Fletcher, Keddy Lesporis, Donwell Hector and then Smith himself all went quickly. Akeem Dewar was the chief destroyer with 28-1-104-4.
Smith had time and room to cut hard and place Dewar anywhere he wanted to, but he hit the ball right into the path of Shacaya Thomas. A collapse of the sorts like the CCC were prevented by Dalton Polius and Lyndon James.
They played their shots, assisted by how well the pitch played. In no time, the partnership had risen to 54. The Windwards ended Day 2 on 303/5, trailing the students' first innings score by six runs.
Scores
At the Beausejour Cricket Ground: COMBINED CAMPUSES & CAMPUS 309 (Anthony Alleyne 84, Kevin McClean 28, Jason Dawes 27 not out, Chadwick Walton 27; Shane Shillingford 3-76, Nelon Pascal 3-92, Garey Mathurin 2-44, Delorn Johnson 2-50)
WINDWARD ISLANDS 303 for five (Devon Smith 139, Tyrone Theophile 54, Andre Fletcher 41, Dalton Polius 29 not out, Lyndon James 22 not out; Akeem Dewar 4-104). Windwards trail CCC by six runs with five wickets intact.
At Vivian Richards Cricket Ground: LEEWARD ISLANDS 182 all out (Tonito Willett 58, Jahmar Hamilton 32, Montcin Hodge 22; Veerasammy Permaul 4-42, Ronsford Beaton 3-43)
GUYANA 268 for nine (Steven Jacobs 75, Assa Fudadin 49, Rajindra Chandrika 35, Derwin Christian 26, Veerasammy Permaul 21; Lionel Baker 4-52, Tonito Willett 2-27, Gavin Tonge 2-82). Guyana lead Leewards by 86 runs with one wicket intact.
At Kensington Oval:
JAMAICA 165 all out (Jermaine Blackwood 81, Andrew Richardson 30 not out; Miguel Cummins 5-58, Ashley Nurse 2-38, Chris Jordan 2-43) & 188 all out (Simon Jackson 59, Carlton Baugh 32, Tamar Lambert 28; Jonathan Carter 4-0, Kevin Stoute 2-26)
BARBADOS 162 (Jonathan Carter 63, Kirk Edwards 32; Nikita Miller 5-33, Sheldon Cotterrell 2-33, Andrew Richardson 2-43) & 13 without loss. Barbados require a further 179 runs for victory.
