Captain Teddy Bishop stood tall for the West Indies Academy as he guided his team into a commanding position against a faltering Windward Islands Volcanoes outfit on the opening day of their seventh-round West Indies Championship encounter at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
After their bowlers dismantled the Volcanoes for a paltry 106 in just 25 overs, the Academy batters, led by Bishop’s unbeaten half-century, ensured the upper hand remained firmly in their grasp. At stumps, they were 197-5, already enjoying a lead of 91 runs heading into Thursday’s second day.
The script was familiar for the Volcanoes, as they suffered another top-order collapse in an innings that was marred by inconsistency and ill-judged strokes. Sent in to bat, they never found their footing against a relentless West Indies Academy attack.
Wickets tumbled with alarming regularity as the pace trio of McKenny Clarke (2-34), Kelvin Pitman (2-22), and Nathan Edward (2-15), along with the crafty left-arm spin of Joshua Bishop (3-15), dismantled the innings with ruthless efficiency.
Six of the ten wickets fell via catches to wicketkeeper Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, underlining both the poor shot selection from the batters and the discipline of the bowlers. Only Kimani Melius (20), Alick Athanaze (18), Noelle Leo (22), and Ryan John (14) managed to reach double figures in an innings that lasted just 150 deliveries — a brutal indictment of the Volcanoes’ continuing struggles this season.
Despite the early loss of Ackeem Auguste (six) with the score at 37, the Academy responded with composure. Justin Jagessar and Mbeki Joseph added 53 for the second wicket to set a solid platform before a mix-up led to Joseph’s run out for 29, and Jagessar, who made a fluent 42 off 74 balls, fell to off-spinner Kenneth Dember.
At 90-3, the Volcanoes sniffed an opportunity to claw back, but the composed pairing of Teddy Bishop and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett extinguished those hopes with a 94-run partnership. Bowen-Tuckett, playing with freedom, struck four boundaries and a six in a breezy 45 before offering a return catch to Kavem Hodge.
But Bishop remained the anchor for his team. His unbeaten 54 has included seven fours and a six so far, and he looks set to carry on the charge on day two. The only blemish late in the day came when Nathan Edward was dismissed for six by Dember, who finished with 2-23 to be the Volcanoes' most effective bowler.