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.
The Volcanoes capitalised on the solid platform laid by Jeremy Solozano (86) and Kimani Melius (53) to post a 111-run lead, after their first innings reply to the Pride’s 214, ended at 325. Pride in their second innings, are in a spot of bother at 72-4, trailing by 39 runs, with Akeem Jordan, on four, set to be joined by Shane Dorwich when play resumes on Friday.
Scores: Barbados Pride 214 & 72-4 (24.1 overs); Windward Islands Volcanoes 325 (98.1 overs)
Solozano and Melius, who posted 123 on Wednesday’s opening day, added 23 and one to their respective overnight scores on 63 and 52. But Johann Jeremiah (32), Kavem Hodge (26) and Sunil Ambris (72), maintained a steady tempo to the innings, to the point where even with their dismissals, the damage was already done.
Ambris scored quickly in his 79-ball knock which had two sixes and nine fours, with Shemar Springer (29) capping the innings where runs are concerned, as the lowered order batsmen failed to trouble the score.
Jomel Warrican led the Pride’s bowling with 5-59 in 24.1 overs, inclusive of seven maidens.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite (18) and the rest of the top order again failed to get into rhythm, and again it has left the Pride’s struggling. Zachary McCaskie (nine), Sheyne Moseley (16) and Jonathan Drakes (20) all fell to four different bowlers which basically summed up their poor run of form in this encounter.
It is now left to be seen if Kevin Wickham can repeat his first innings heroics with some assistance from Dorwich and others to possibly keep the Pride alive in the contest.
The 20-year-old Wickham smashed nine sixes and eight fours on his way to a third First Class century in a 135-ball innings. He was well supported by Jonathan Drakes, whose 84 off 99 balls, included 12 boundaries.
Marooners in their reply, ended the day on 10-1, still 334 runs behind Barbados Pride heading into Friday’s third day.
Scores: Barbados Pride 344-8 (72.2 overs); Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners 10-1 (18 overs)
After losing Wednesday’s first day due to a wet outfield caused by a ruptured water main, Barbados Pride wasted little time to establish a solid footing in their innings, as they declared intentions of securing a result in the contest.
Despite losing captain Kraigg Brathwaite (seven) and Shayne Moseley (10) cheaply, Zachary McCaskie (30) gradually steadied things, before Drakes and Wickham took the Marooners bowlers to task with a healthy fourth-wicket stand.
The foundation left by both was so healthy that it mattered little that Roshan Primus (five) and Akeem Jordan (14) failed to contribute meaningfully to the innings. However, wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Dorwich added a 50-ball 41, including five fours and a solitary six, with the declaration coming shortly after his dismissal.
Romario Greaves (2-54), Jediah Blades (2-64), Zishan Motara (2-68), led the Marooners bowling.
Meanwhile, Jordan removed Kirstan Kallicharan (seven) to put the Marooners under early pressure in their turn at bat.
