Solozano unbeaten on 63, heading into second day's play.
file
Ryan John continued his impressive run of form at the top of the West Indies Championship, as his four-wicket haul, backed by a solid opening partnership between Jeremy Solozano and Kimani Melius, placed Windward Islands Volcanoes in the early ascendancy on the opening day of their encounter against Barbados Pride on Wednesday.
With both teams coming off handsome victories over Jamaica Scorpions and Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners respectively, this was expected to be an entertaining clash, and it has so far delivered accordingly at Kensington Park, in Jamaica.
John, who took a five-wicket haul in his match figures of 6-64 against the Scorpions, grabbed 4-47 in 16 overs to restrict Barbados Pride to 214 in just under 50 overs. Kevin Wickham, who scored 139 in Pride’s first round win, was again atop the batting chart with 74 off 104 balls, including 10 fours.
Solozano, unbeaten on 63 off 110 balls, including eight fours and captain Melius, unbeaten on 52 off 114 balls, including four boundaries, then guided Volcanoes to 123, 91 runs away from first innings honours with all 10 wickets still intact.
Scores: Barbados Pride 214 all out (49.5 overs); Windward Islands Volcanoes 123 without loss (37.0 overs) trail by 91 runs.
Barbados Pride’s batting performance was a stark contrast of their rendition against CCC Marooners, as the top-order, which includes captain Kraigg Brathwaite, failed to impress after being asked to take first strike.
Brathwaite (two), Zachary McCaskie (five) and Shayne Moseley (six), all went cheaply, as John knocked down the stumps of McCaskie and Moseley. Jonathan Drakes tried to repair the innings with Wickham, but was run out for 12, while Roshon Primus (12), also had a brief stay in the middle.
Wickham eventually got some assistance from wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Dorwich (37) to gradually repair the damage, before John and Darel Cyrus accounted for both.
Jomel Warrican with a 23-ball 21, was the next best scorer of the Pride’s topsy-turvy innings.
John’s four-wicket haul was supported by Cyrus and Shamar Springer, who ended with 2-41 and 2-61 respectively.
It seems there was nothing the Volcanoes could do wrong on the day and their turn at bat demonstrated just that. The left-hand, right-hand combination of Solozano and Melius frustrated the Pride bowlers, as both patiently and skillfully constructed their innings and, more importantly, laid a solid platform on which they can build, on Thursday’s second day.
Caribbean teams miss out on men's, women's 4x400m finals; get second shot at Olympic qualifcation on Sunday
There was no fortune for Caribbean countries at the backend of Saturday’s first day of the World Athletics Relays, as the various teams failed to progress in the men’s and women’s 4x400m events at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
In the female qualifiers, Jamaica’s quartet of Charokee Young, Ashley Williams, Junelle Bromfield, and Roneisha McGregor placed third in heat three in 3:29.03, behind Poland and France, who clocked 3:27.11 and 3:28.06.
Earlier, Cuba (3:31.56) and Dominican Republic (3:40.93) placed third and seventh, respectively, in heat two.
Ireland headlined the team’s that progressed, as they clocked a National Record 3:24.38 in qualifying. United States (3:24.76), Great Britain (3:24.89), Italy (3:26.28), Norway (3:26.89), Poland (3:27.11), and Canada (3:27.17), also booked their spots in the final, as well as for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, it was more of the same on the male side of action, as Trinidad and Tobago’s quartet of Asa Guevara, Timothy Frederick, Shakeem McKay, and Jereem Richards, clocking 3:04.15 for third in heat one, where Japan (3:00.98) and Germany (3:01.25) secured the coveted spots.
United States initially won the heat, but they were later disqualified for an infringement.
Jamaica’s Malik James-King, Zandrion Barnes, Assinie Wilson, and Demish Gaye, clocked 3:02.46 for third, behind Belgium (3:00.09) and Nigeria (3:01.70). Guyana (3:09.91) was eighth in that heat.
The Bahamas (3:07.45) placed sixth in heat three, which was won by Italy (3:01.68), ahead of the fast-finishing Great Britain (3:02.10).
In the last heat, Barbados (3:03.72) and Dominican Republic (3:08.15), placed third and sixth, respectively, as Botswana (2:59.73) and South Africa (2:59.76) took the top spots.
Despite missing out on this occasion, the teams will have another shot at Olympic qualification in Round 2 action on Sunday.
Jamaica books spot in Men’s 4x100m final at World Athletics Relays
Jamaica’s men booked a spot in the final of the Men’s 4x100m relay on day one of the World Athletics Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau on Saturday.
Jamaica’s quartet of Bryan Levell, Kadrian Goldson, Ryiem Forde and Sandrey Davison combined to run 38.50 to finish second in the third heat behind Canada who ran 38.11 to win.
Both teams also booked spots at the Olympics in Paris later this year.
The USA (37.49), Japan (38.10), Italy (38.14), China (38.25), France (38.32) and Great Britain (38.36) also made it through to the final.
Jamaica’s women, on the other hand, failed to advance to the final after finishing fifth in their heat.
The quartet of Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Alana Reid and Remona Burchell combined to run 43.33.
Paulino produces spirited anchor leg to help Dominican Republic book spot in Mixed 4x400m final at World Athletics Relays
Reigning World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino produced a special anchor leg to help the Dominican Republic book their spot in the final of the Mixed 4x400m relay on day one of the World Athletics Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau on Saturday.
Paulino got the baton down the field and produced a 48.93 split on her anchor leg to move her country up to second (3:14.39) and secure a spot in Saturday’s final alongside the Netherlands who won the heat in 3:12.16.
Both teams also secured their spots in the field at the Olympics in Paris later this year.
Jamaica (Roshawn Clarke, Leah Anderson, Rusheen McDonald, Janieve Russell) ran 3:14.83 and hosts the Bahamas (Alonzo Russell, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner, Shania Adderley) ran 3:14.86 but failed to advance to the final after finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Both teams will get another opportunity to make it to Paris in the second round of Olympic qualifying on Sunday.
USA (3:11.52), Ireland (3:12.50), Belgium (3:13.18) Poland (3:13.53), Nigeria (3:13.79) and France (3:14.71) make up the eight teams to advance to the final.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
