Athanaze, Hodge put Volcanoes firmly in command against Scorpions after day two

By Sports Desk March 16, 2023
Alick Athanaze made scores of 81 and 97 against the Jamaica Scorpions. Alick Athanaze made scores of 81 and 97 against the Jamaica Scorpions.

Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge scored fifties as the Windward Islands Hurricanes put themselves firmly in command of their third-round encounter against the Jamaica Scorpions after day two at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The Scorpions started the day 98-7 off 21 overs replying to the Windwards’ 217 all out.

They lost their final three wickets quickly, adding just three runs to their total to finish 101 all out in just 28.3 overs.

All the Jamaican wickets fell to fast bowling as Justin Greaves starred with a career-best 6-34 off 10.3 overs while Shermon Lewis and Ryan John took two wickets apiece.

The Windwards began their second innings with a lead of 116 and suffered an immediate setback when Jerlani Robinson fell to Marquino Mindley off the first ball of the second innings.

Debutant Johann Jeremiah went next for 11 before captain Alick Athanaze and Kavemm Hodge batted beautifully to put on 66 and carry the Volcanoes into lunch on 85-2, a lead of 201 runs with Hodge on 45 and Athanaze on 26.

The post-lunch session saw the pair continue to look comfortable against the Jamaican bowling.

Hodge and Athanaze both brought up fifties as the partnership reached a mammoth 171 before Hodge fell for an excellent 107-ball 82 to leave the Volcanoes 190-3 in the 38th over.

Only eight runs later, Athanaze fell just shy of what would’ve ben his second first class hundred when he was dismissed by Kirk McKenzie for 97 off 100 balls, his eighth first class fifty and second of the match.

At tea, the Volcanoes were 215-4 off 44 overs, a lead of 331 runs, with Sunil Ambris on 12 and Justin Greaves on seven.

Soon after the resumption, Ambris became the fifth man to go, caught off the bowling of Nicholson Gordon for 23 with the score on 242 in the 54th over.

Two overs later, Tevyn Walcott went for a nine-ball duck to leave the Volcanoes 244-6.

Patrick Harty removed Greaves for 33 and Ryan John for six in the 61st over to leave the Windwards 259-8.

The ninth wicket fell when Jamie Merchant removed Kenneth Dember for 13 in the 69th over with the score on 283.

The Windward were eventually bowled out for 300 after 78.5 overs meaning the Jamaica Scorpions will need 417 runs to win.

Patrick Harty ended with 3-63 while Marquino Mindley and Nicholson Gordon took two wickets, each.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)

Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38).

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