A vastly improved batting performance on Thursday's second day has put Windward Islands Volcanoes in the driver’s seat in their sixth-round West Indies Championship encounter against Barbados Pride at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium.

At the close, the Volcanoes were 203-4 in their second innings, 191 runs ahead, thanks in large part to West Indies Test batsman Kavem Hodge, who is unbeaten on 77 and looks set to cause further damage when play resumes on Friday. At the other end, Shadrack Descarte, on 20, is providing valuable support as they look to build a formidable lead.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 186 & 203-4; Barbados Pride 198

The foundation for the Volcanoes’ commanding position was laid earlier in the day by their bowling attack, led by Keon Gaston, who produced a career-best performance of 6-52 in his first game of the season. His destructive spell helped dismiss Barbados Pride for 198 and gifted the Volcanoes a chance to seize control with the bat.

Resuming on 94-5, the Pride’s hopes of a revival took an immediate hit as Gaston removed the dangerous Kyle Mayers without adding to his overnight 40. That left Barbados reeling at 94-6, but Matthew Forde and Dominic Drakes offered some resistance with a 47-run seventh-wicket stand.

However, their efforts were short-lived. Gilon Tyson removed Drakes for 18, and Gaston continued his charge, trapping Forde leg-before-wicket for a counter-attacking 43 off 54 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes.

Jomel Warrican, who was left unbeaten on 20, tried to shepherd the tail and ensured Barbados eked out a narrow 12-run first-innings lead. But Gaston completed his six-wicket haul by bowling Ramon Simmonds (13) and trapping Jair McAllister (eight) to end the innings.

Tyson provided solid support with figures of 3-49.

The Volcanoes wasted little time erasing their deficit, but their second innings got off to a shaky start as openers Jeremy Solozano (zero) and Kimani Melius (14) fell cheaply, and they were again wobbling at 14-2.

That’s when Hodge and Captain Alick Athanaze took matters into their own hands to stabilize the innings with a crucial 123-run third-wicket partnership. Athanaze played the aggressor, as he unleashed a flurry of boundaries—14 fours and a six—on his way to a rapid 78 off 71 balls. His attacking intent threatened to completely take the game away from the Pride, but Dominic Drakes struck a timely blow to dismiss the captain to break the momentum.

Sunil Ambris, fresh off a first-innings century, would have hoped to continue his fine form but lasted only 10 balls before falling to Warrican for eight. At 152-4, the Pride saw a window to claw their way back into the contest.

However, Hodge remained composed and found a steady partner in Descarte. The duo has so far put on an unbeaten 51-run stand for the fifth wicket, as they ensured the Volcanoes stayed on course for a sizeable lead.