Leeward Islands Hurricanes made the most of day one in their day/night West Indies Championship clash against the Barbados Pride as they closed on a strong 270-5 to signal their intent in the seventh round clash at Warner Park on Wednesday.
At the heart of their sturdy start were two composed half-centuries from rising star Jewel Andrew and dependable Keacy Carty, whose contrasting knocks anchored the innings and put the Pride bowlers through a prolonged shift on a placid surface.
It was a day of steady accumulation and timely aggression for the Hurricanes, who were sent in to bat and initially stumbled when opener Mikyle Louis was trapped leg-before by Matthew Forde for just two, with only three runs on the board. But that early breakthrough proved to be the calm before the resistance.
Kadeem Henry (27) and Carty dug in and steered the innings back on track with a 54-run stand for the second wicket. Henry, looking comfortable, eventually fell LBW to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who would later emerge as the pick of the Barbados attack with 3-51.
Carty, batting with typical poise, stitched together another useful partnership with the more adventurous Karima Gore. While Carty played the anchor role, Gore attempted to up the tempo with a couple of attractive boundaries and a six in a brisk 22 off 43 balls before he edged one off Warrican and was caught behind, with the score at 114.
Unfazed, Carty pushed on to reach his fifty in a patient innings laced with six boundaries before he, too, succumbed to the relentless probe of Warrican and was caught by Kyle Mayers after miscuing a lofted push. At 119-4, the Hurricanes were in need of momentum.
Enter Jewel Andrew.
The 18-year-old, already touted as one to watch, lived up to the billing with a stylish and spirited innings that changed the tone of the day. Andrew cracked nine boundaries and a six in his 80-ball 66, as he partnered with Justin Greaves in a vital 93-run fifth-wicket stand that blunted the Pride’s bowling ambitions.
Andrew’s innings was brought to an end when he edged behind off Shaquille Cumberbatch, but by then, the damage had been done as the Hurricanes were not only stabilized but well ahead on the scoreboard.
With Justin Greaves unbeaten on 49 and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jahmar Hamilton on 28, the pair got to the close with a 58-run sixth-wicket stand that showed no signs of slowing. Greaves, in particular, has been composed, rotating the strike and patiently waiting for scoring opportunities.