Usman Khawaja "went Usain Bolt" to make his flight to India after a series of hold-ups delayed the batsman's departure from Australia ahead of this week's first Test.

Khawaja was forced to remain in Brisbane after not receiving a visa in time to make his scheduled flight last week, before two delayed flights further frustrated his bid to reach India. 

The batter was eventually forced to race through Delhi Airport to make the final leg of his journey to Bangalore, where he met up with his Australia team-mates ahead of the four-Test tour.

"I went Usain Bolt trying to make my connection," Khawaja told cricket.com.au. "I somehow got on that flight – the last flight of the whole night – and got here. 

"From the time I left Melbourne to here it was 24 hours. That's just life, you just have to deal with it. It's no biggie, I'm here now and ready to go."

While the delay meant Khawaja only managed a single training session before Australia departed for Nagpur ahead of the first Test starting on Thursday, he does not believe it will have an impact when the series gets under way.

He also shrugged off David Warner's claim of being "exhausted" ahead of the tour, saying: "Trying to get on seven different flights to get to India, then get here – we're all tired, we're all fatigued.

"That's just part and parcel of being a cricketer. Once you're on the field, it's just game on. It's the same with Davey.

"I've scored runs a lot of times when I have been tired and fatigued, you just have to find a way sometimes. I'm sure Davey will find a way."

India have only lost one of their last 15 men's Tests at home to Australia, while their current run of three successive series triumphs against the Aussies is the longest in their history.

However, Australia have only lost one of their last 10 Test series (W7 D2), and they could rack up three consecutive series wins for the first time since February 2016.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored his maiden Test century and Captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored his 12th as the West Indies closed another rain shortened second day in the first Test against Zimbabwe on 221-0 at Bulawayo.

The West Indies had resumed from their overnight score of 112-0 with both batsmen on 55.

In the 48 overs possible on Sunday because of a wet outfield caused by heavy downpour on Saturday, the 26-year-old Chanderpaul, playing in only his third Test, progressed to score 101 not out.

His 100 came up off 296 balls and included 10 fours and a six. It was the first time since 2013 that a West Indies opener other than Brathwaite had scored a Test century.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, had scored yet another century to be unbeaten on 116. His ton that included only seven fours came from 226 balls.

The 221-run opening stand marked the first time West Indies has put on a double-century opening partnership since 2012 and was just the 10th double century opening partnership in West Indies history and the seventh pair to do so.

The partnership was also the highest ever opening stand against Zimbabwe.

The 150-run stand came up in 67.2 overs while the 200-run partnership was achieved in 83.2 overs.

 

 

Josh Hazlewood's rotten luck with injuries has continued after he was ruled out of the opening Test between India and Australia.

Hazlewood, who has played only four Tests in the last two years, will not feature in Nagpur on Thursday due to an Achilles issue, with Scott Boland in line to play instead.

A side injury suffered against West Indies in November saw Hazlewood miss not only the second Test of that series, but also the first two matches against South Africa in December.

He returned for the final Test of that series, taking 5-57 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but will now have to recover from another niggle.

Hazlewood joins fellow paceman Mitchell Starc in missing the first Test of the four-match India series, while all-rounder Cameron Green is also a doubt, meaning an overseas bow for Boland is likely.

Boland has taken 28 wickets across his six Test appearances.

Discussing the injury, Hazlewood said: "It's still lingering from the [Sydney] Test match [against South Africa].

"We obviously bowled after a lot of rain and the jump-offs were quite soft, where we were taking off from and they ended up replacing them as well.

"It sort of worked to a degree, but just that extra load jumping off a soft ground to bowl and again first Test match your body is not used to that sort of workload as well.

"So we thought we'd give it a few days here straight off the bat and try and get over the hump and have a bowl from Tuesday and hope it goes well."

Boland has the full backing of his team-mate, however.

"Scotty has bowled plenty at the MCG when it was a flat wicket, it probably wasn't swinging or reverse swinging so he knows how to work hard for a long period of time," Hazlewood said.

"You've got Lance Morris who has worked hard on reverse swing for the last month and then a nice lead in here with a few sessions.

"The guys are excited first of all to play in the subcontinent, they both haven't yet, but they're very well qualified to do so."

Jamaica Scorpions debutant Abhijai Mansingh, who entered the match as a substitute after Alwyn Williams was ruled out on the first day, played a starring role to help his team secure a tense draw on day four of their West Indies Championship fixture against the Leeward Island’s Hurricanes at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Day four began with the Hurricanes on 198-7 off 65 overs, leading by 224 runs with Cornwall on 56 and Hayden Walsh Jr on 13.

The first wicket of the day fell in the 69th over when Walsh Jr fell for 23 with the score on 221.

The final two Hurricanes wickets fell in consecutive deliveries in the 74th over when Jamie Merchant removed Cornwall for 85 and Sheeno Berridge for one. In the end, the Leewards were bowled out for 241 in 73.5 overs, leaving the Scorpions needing 268 for victory.

Jamie Merchant ended with 4-43 off his 20.5 overs.

The Scorpions chase started well as openers Kirk McKenzie and Leroy Lugg put on 32 in 6.5 overs before a rain delay forced the teams into an early lunch break.

After the resumption, the pair added just five more runs before Lugg fell caught behind off the bowling of Sheeno Berridge for seven in the ninth over.

Two runs and one over later, McKenzie fell in a similar fashion off the bowling of Jeremiah Louis for 28.

Romaine Morris and Aldane Thomas then put on a 34-run third wicket partnership before Thomas chipped one in the air off Collin Archibald and got caught for 12 in the 16th over to leave the Scorpions 73-3.

Morris fell soon after for 22 to leave the score 75-4 in the 19th over. Captain Paul Palmer Jr was next to go for eight in the 26th over, bringing Jamie Merchant to the crease to join Mansingh.

The pair batted beautifully in the lead-up to the tea interval, putting on 60 for the sixth wicket to leave the Scorpions 142-5 at tea, needing 126 runs to win with Mansingh and Merchant both unbeaten on 31.

After the tea break, Merchant reached 47 before falling off the bowling of Cornwall to leave the Scorpions 174-6.

The 51st over saw Mansingh bring up his second fifty of the game off 106 balls.

Mansingh and Marquino Mindley brought the score up to 183 in the 58th over before Mindley became the seventh wicket to fall, caught off the bowling of Kofi James for three.

Akim Fraser became Cornwall’s fourth victim of the innings when he was trapped in front for one to leave the Scorpions 194-8. With no more runs added, Cornwall took his tenth wicket of the match when he removed Gordon Bryan for a duck, leaving the Hurricanes needing just one wicket to secure victory.

In the end, Mansingh ended up not out on 62 off 209 balls while Patrick Harty made an important one off 27 balls as the Jamaicans finished 200-9 after 82 overs.

Cornwall ended up with figures of 5-41 off 31 overs.

Scores: Leeward Islands Hurricanes 260 off 118.3 overs (Jeremiah Louis 78*, Jahmar Hamiton 40, Marquino Mindley 3-29, Abhijai Mansingh 3-47) and 241 off 73.5 overs (Rakheem Cornwall 85, Montcin Hodge 31, Jamie Merchant 4-43, Abhijai Mansingh 2-30, Patrick Harty 2-56)

Jamaica Scorpions 234 off 82.4 overs (Leroy Lugg 79, Abhijai Mansingh 56, Paul Palmer Jr 47, Rakheem Cornwall 5-54, Sheeno Berridge 2-25, Colin Archibald 2-37) and 200-9 off 82 overs (Abhijai Mansingh 62*, Jamie Merchant 47, Kirk McKenzie 28, Rakheem Cornwall 5-41)

 

 

Pacer Nial Smith took his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket to lead the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a 183-run win over the Barbados Pride on day four of their first round West Indies Championship encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua on Saturday.

The Harpy Eagles started day four on 91-8, leading the Pride by 242 runs with Veerasammy Permaul (11) and Smith (0) at the crease.

Permaul added some valuable lower-order runs before he was dismissed by Chaim Holder for 33 before the Harpy Eagles declared their innings at 126-9 after 44.1 overs with Smith finishing not out on 12.

Needing 277 to win, Barbados lost their first wicket in just the second over as Smith removed first innings half-centurion Sheyne Moseley for a duck with the score on five.

It was 9-2 just an over later as Zachary McCaskie was dismissed by Shamar Joseph for four.

Jonathan Drakes and Shamarh Brooks tried to revive the innings with a 21-run third wicket partnership before Brooks was dismissed by Ronsford Beaton for 12 in the 17th over with the score on 30.

The Pride then lost three wickets for just three runs as Nicholas Kirton, SHamarh Springer and captain Shane Dowrich all fell without scoring to leave them teetering at 38-6 in the 21st over.

A 33-run seventh wicket partnership between Drakes and Akeem Jordan delayed the inevitable for a while before Jordan was dismissed by Smith in the 32nd over for 20.

Drakes was next to go for a fighting 99-ball 36, caught off the bowling of Smith in the 34th over with the score on 78.

Keon Harding (7) and Jair McAllister (4) were the final two wickets to fall as the Pride were eventually bowled out for 94 in 36 overs.

Smith finished with figures of 5-31 off 10 overs while Ronsford Beaton and Veerasammy Permaul took two wickets each.

Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 371 off 121.1 overs (Matthew Nandu 126, Kevin Sinclair 43, Veerasammy Permaul 37, Jair McAllister 3-43, Chaim Holder 3-72) and 126-9 declared off 44.1 overs (Veerasammy Permaul 33, Matthew Nandu 16, Akeem Jordan 3-18, Keon Harding 3-37)

Barbados Pride 220-9 off 91.2 overs (Sheyne Moseley 65, Shamarh Brooks 51, Shemar Springer 35*, Veerasammy Permaul 4-53, Kevin Sinclair 3-65, Shamar Joseph 2-33) and 94 off 36 overs (Jonathan Drakes 36, Akeem Jordan 20, Nial Smith 5-31, Ronsford Beaton 2-11, Veerasammy Permaul 2-18)

 

Only 51 overs were possible as rain played a massive part on day one of the first Test between the West Indies and Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.

On a flat pitch, Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and chose to bat first.

Brathwaite and opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul then both played typical patient knocks to end the day 112-0 after 51 overs when the heavens opened.

In the process, Brathwaite brought up his 29th Test fifty while Chanderpaul, playing in just his third match, brought up his second half century in Tests.

Both batsmen ended the day not out on 55, with Brathwaite’s knock coming off 138 balls and including two fours and Chanderpaul’s coming off 170 balls and including eight boundaries.

Spirited late spells from pacers Akeem Jordan and Keon Harding helped the Barbados Pride set up an interesting final day of play on Saturday against the Guyana Harpy Eagles in their first round West Indies Championship fixture at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.

Friday’s day four started with the Pride’s overnight pair of Shamarh Brooks and Keon Harding adding a further 54 runs to their overnight 105-3 before Harding was dismissed by Veerasammy Permaul for 24 in the 63rd over.

That wicket brought Nicholas Kirton to the crease but he did not last long before getting dismissed by Kevin Sinclair for two in the 66th over.

Brooks and new batsman Shemar Springer took the Pride to lunch without the loss of any more wickets, finishing 166-5 off 67 overs with Brooks on 47 and Springer yet to get off the mark.

Brooks brought up his fifty shortly after lunch but failed to kick on, being dismissed by Permaul for 51 with the score on 178 in the 71st over.

It quickly became 178-7 after Sinclair removed Akeem Jordan for a duck.

The Pride only batted with 10 as captain Shane Dowrich was unable to bat.

Springer made a crucial 35 not out as Chaim Holder (13) and Jair McAllister (2) both fell as the Pride ended their innings 220-9 off 91.2 overs, trailing Guyana by 151 runs.

Veerasammy Permaul finished with 4-53 from 26.2 overs while Kevin Sinclair took 3-65 in his 24 overs.

The beginning of the Harpy Eagles’ second innings was not ideal as Tevin Imlach was dismissed by Jair McAllister for a duck in just the second over with the score on three.

The tight opening spells by McAllister and Jordan paid dividends when Jordan trapped Kemol Savory in front for a duck in the seventh over to leave the Harpy Eagles 4-2.

First innings centurion Matthew Nandu was then joined by captain Leon Johnson and the pair added some respectability to the total with a 38-run partnership before Johnson became Keon Harding’s first victim for 12 in the 17th over.

Next it was Shemar Springer’s turn to get in on the fun, dismissing Anthony Bramble for one to leave the Guyanese reeling at 49-4 in the 20th over.

Kevin Sinclair also failed to significantly trouble the scorers before he became Harding’s second victim, falling for one in the 23rd over.

The 25th over saw wicket number six fall as Nandu was removed by Harding for a 77-ball 16.

Three overs later, Chanderpaul Hemraj went caught behind off the bowling of Akeem Jordan for 15.

Shamar Joseph became Jordan’s third wicket, going for four in the 32nd over to leave the score at 90-8.

The Harpy Eagles ended the day 91-8 off 33 overs with Permaul (11) and Nial Smith (0) at the crease. They have a lead of 242 runs heading into day four.

Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 371 off 121.1 overs (Matthew Nandu 126, Kevin Sinclair 43, Veerasammy Permaul 37, Jair McAllister 3-43, Chaim Holder 3-72) and 91-8 off 33 overs (Matthew Nandu 16, Akeem Jordan 3-18, Keon Harding 3-37)

 Barbados Pride 220-9 off 91.2 overs (Sheyne Moseley 65, Shamarh Brooks 51, Shemar Springer 35*, Veerasammy Permaul 4-53, Kevin Sinclair 3-65, Shamar Joseph 2-33)

 

 

 

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes will enter the fourth and final day of their round one West Indies Championship fixture against the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua with a 224-run second innings lead with four wickets in hand.

Friday’s day three started with Jamaica batting on 186-6 off 60 overs with Abhijai Mansingh (34) and Gordon Bryan (0) at the crease.

The day did not start well for the Scorpions as Bryan failed to add to his overnight total before being bowled by Rakheem Cornwall, bringing Marquino Mindley to the crease.

Jamaica’s 200 was brought up when Mindley hit Hayden Walsh Jr for a six, shortly before Cornwall completed his 23rd first-class five wicket haul by dismissing Mindley for 19 in the 71st over. The Scorpions were 211-8 at that point.

The ninth wicket fell when Sheeno Berridge removed Akim Fraser for five to leave the Scorpions 225-9 in the 81st over.

The very next over saw Mansingh bring up a well-compiled debut half-century off 171 balls with a boundary off Jeremiah Louis.

The innings eventually came to an end when Mansingh, looking to score quick runs, was dismissed by Berridge for 56 off 176 balls. The Scorpions made 234 in 82.4 overs, trailing the Hurricanes by 26 runs on first innings.

Cornwall was the pick of the Hurricanes bowlers with 5-54 off 28 overs while pacers Sheeno Berridge and Colin Archibald took two wickets each.

With a tricky period to bat before lunch, Hurricanes openers Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell successfully negotiated the attack from the Jamaican bowlers. They entered the break 12-0 with Powell on eight and Hodge on four.

The post-lunch session saw them continue to bat sensibly, reaching 55 in the 18th over before Hodge fell to Jamie Merchant for 31.

Merchant was at it again just after the drinks break, this time dismissing Powell 28 with the score on 66 in the 22nd over.

Keacy Carty and Kofi James provided a 28-run partnership before James went for 18 off the bowling of Akim Fraser.

Captain Jahmar Hamilton then came and went, bowled by Patrick Harty for nine to leave the score at 109-4 after 35 overs.

The Hurricanes added just one run before entering the tea interval at 110-4 with Carty on 19 and Terrance Ward yet to get off the mark.

Shortly after the resumption, Carty became Harty’s second victim for 26 with the score on 119.

Mansingh then got in on the second innings wickets, dismissing Warde for four to leave the Hurricanes 154-6, leading by 180 runs. Mansingh got his second wicket when he dismissed first innings half centurion Jeremiah Louis for six leaving the Leewards 166-7.

That was the end of the wicket-taking for the day as Rakheem Cornwall and Hayden Walsh Jr fought off the Scorpions bowling to reach 198-7 off 65 overs at stumps, leading by 224 runs. Cornwall brought up his half century, his 16th in first-class cricket, off 56 balls in the 60th over.

Scores: Leeward Islands Hurricanes 260 off 118.3 overs (Jeremiah Louis 78*, Jahmar Hamiton 40, Marquino Mindley 3-29, Abhijai Mansingh 3-47) and 198-7 off 65 overs (Rakheem Cornwall 56*, Montcin Hodge 31, Jamie Merchant 2-27, Abhijai Mansingh 2-30, Patrick Harty 2-56)

Jamaica Scorpions 234 off 82.4 overs (Leroy Lugg 79, Abhijai Mansingh 56, Paul Palmer Jr 47, Rakheem Cornwall 5-54, Sheeno Berridge 2-25, Colin Archibald 2-37).

 

 

An unbeaten half-century from veteran Jason Mohammed helped the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force earn a nervy draw against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in their first round West indies Championship fixture at the St. George’s Cricket Ground in Grenada on Friday.

The Windwards entered day four in a dominant position, finding themselves 397-3 with a huge 325-run lead over the Red Force on first innings with captain Alick Athanaze (49) and Sunil Ambris (42) at the crease.

The pair started the day looking for quick runs and both batsmen brought up their half-centuries before Athanaze went off the bowling of Terrance Hinds for 51. Ambris ended up finishing not out on 55 while Justin Greaves (6) and Tevyn Walcott (6 not out) provided late cameos as the Volcanoes declared on 425-5 off 113.4 overs, leaving the Red Force needing 355 for victory.

With Vikash Mohan once again unable to open the innings, the Red Force went with Jeremy Solozano and fast bowler Uthman Muhammed to open the innings.

The move did not work as Muhammad only lasted six deliveries before he was dismissed by Darius Martin for four.

With the score on 43, the Red Force lost their second wicket when skipper Darren Bravo was bowled by Ryan John for 23 in the 13th over.

On the stroke of lunch, John picked up his second wicket, removing Solozano for 22 to leave the Red Force reeling at 55-3 off 16.3 overs.

After the break, the vastly experienced pair of Jason Mohammed and Yannic Cariah carried the score up to 93 in the 38th over before Cariah was dismissed by Kavem Hodge for 12.

Tion Webster, who got 79 in the first innings, joined Mohammed at the crease and the pair batted well to put on 49 before the tea break.  Trinidad & Tobago entered tea 142-4 with Webster on 38 and Mohammed on 31.

The pair resumed their fight after the break, needing a further 213 runs for victory.

Mohammed brought up his fifty off 111 balls in the 52nd over before Webster brought up his half-century off 50 balls in the 53rd over.

With the partnership on the brink of 100, Webster’s stay was brought to an end for 58 by John in the 58th over to leave the Red Force 191-5, needing 163 runs to win.

The volcanoes were able to take the wickets of Amir Jangoo (8) and Terrance Hinds (0) before the match came to an end with the red Force on 225-7 off 83 overs.

Mohammed ended not out on 79 from 201 balls while Khary Pierre ended eight not out.

 

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 243 off 63.1 overs (Tevyn Walcott 87*, Sunil Ambris 55, Bryan Charles 4-46, Terrance Hinds 4-72) & 425-5 off 113.4 overs (Kimani Melius 192, Kavem Hodge 80, Sunil Ambris 55*, Alick Athanaze 51, Bryan Charles 2-92)

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 315 off 92.1 overs (Amir Jangoo 86, Tion Webster 79, Terrance Hinds 52, Ryan John 5-18, Darius Martin 2-80) and 225-7 off 83 overs (Jason Mohammed 79*, Tion Webster 58, Ryan John 3-27, Kavem Hodge 2-54)

 

On the back of a three-wicket haul from Dwayne Bravo, the MI Emirates condemned the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to their eighth defeat in nine games in the DP World IL T20 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

The Emirates first posted 180-4 from their 20 overs after the Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field first.

The UAE’s Muhammad Waseem top scored with a 43-ball 60 including one four and six sixes while captain Kieron Pollard continued his excellent form throughout the season with 43 off just 17 deliveries including four fours and three sixes.

The Knight Riders reply fell short by 18 runs despite a top score of 42 from 22 balls from Andre Russell. His knock included five fours and two sixes.

Dwayne Bravo took 3-37 from his four overs while Imran Tahir and Zahoor Khan took two wickets each.

The Emirates have now booked a spot in the playoffs with a game to spare in the league phase.

Scores: MI Emirates 180-4 off 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 60, Kieron Pollard 43) Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 162 off 19.2 overs (Andre Russell 42, Joe Clarke 22, Dwayne Bravo 3-37, Imran Tahir 2-20, Zahoor Khan 2-33).

 

 

 

Former West Indies Under-19 opener Matthew Nandu struck 126 on debut as the Guyana Harpy Eagles ended day two of their West Indies Championship match against the Barbados Pride at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in a strong position.

The Harpy Eagles started day two on 205-5 with Nandu (70) and Kevin Sinclair (28) at the crease.

The pair added 25 runs to the overnight score before Sinclair was dismissed for 43 in the 85th over, bringing Vice-Captain Veerasammy Permaul to the crease to join Nandu.

The pair continued to fight off the Barbados bowling, reaching 273-6 in the 102nd over when Nandu, who represented the West Indies at the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies, brought up his maiden first class 100 off 295 balls.

The partnership reached 90 when Permaul was dismissed by Keon Harding for 37 off 95 balls in the 112th over with the score on 315.

Nandu was next to go in the 118th over, eventually falling for a marathon 126 off 335 balls after putting on a further 39 runs with Shamar Joseph.

Joseph (20) and Nial Smith (9) were the final two to fall as Guyana made an impressive 371 off 121 overs.

Pacer Jair McAllister took 3-43 off 18.1 overs while spinner Chaim Holder took 3-72 off 36 overs.

In reply, Barbados openers Zachary McCaskie and Sheyne Moseley put on 69 before McCaskie was dismissed by Kevin Sinclair in the 24th over for 26.

Jonathan Drakes joined Moseley at the crease but didn’t last long as he became Permaul’s first victim for a duck.

Moseley brought up his fifty off 86 balls in the 29th over.

Moseley and Shamarh Brooks put on a 32-run third wicket partnership to bring the score up to 102 before Moseley went off the bowling of Shamar Joseph for 65.

The Pride ended the day 105-3 with Brooks on 10 and Keon Harding on three. They trail the Harpy Eagles by 266 runs.

Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 371 off 121.1 overs (Matthew Nandu 126, Kevin Sinclair 43, Veerasammy Permaul 37, Jair McAllister 3-43, Chaim Holder 3-72) Barbados Pride 105-3 off 39 overs (Sheyne Moseley 65, Zachary McCaskie 26)

 

Two late wickets from Rakheem Cornwall put the Leeward Islands Hurricanes slightly in the driver’s seat in their West Indies Championship fixture against the Jamaica Scorpions after Thursday’s day two at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The Hurricanes started the day on 163-6 with Cornwall on 29 and Jeremiah Louis on 17. Cornwall failed to add to his overnight score when he was dismissed by Abhijai Mansingh in the second over of the day.

Louis then continued on, providing some much-needed stability to the innings, eventually bringing up his fourth first class fifty off 140 balls.

Forced to bat with the tail, Louis became more aggressive, making his next 28 runs off just 31 balls to finish not out on 78, his highest score in first class cricket.

Hayden Walsh Jr (13) and Collin Archibald (17) also formed important partnerships with Louis down the stretch as the Hurricanes were eventually bowled out for 260 in 118-3 overs.

Marquino Mindley, who recently made his Test debut against Australia, led the way with the ball for the Scorpions with 3-29 from 19.3 overs while Mansingh took 3-47 from 20 overs.

In reply, Scorpions openers Leroy Lugg and Kirk McKenzie saw off the new ball well, reaching 60 in the 14th over before McKenzie became Colin Archibald’s first victim for 18.

Aggressive from the outset, Lugg brought up his second first class fifty off just 39 balls in the 15th over with a huge six off Rakheem Cornwall.

One wicket became two very quickly as Archibald removed Jamaica’s number three Romaine Morris for two in the 18th over.

Jamaica lost their third wicket when Cornwall trapped Aldane Thomas in front for four in the 23rd over, bringing Captain Paul Palmer Jr to the crease.

At tea, the Scorpions were 97-3 from 23 overs with Lugg on 73 and Palmer Jr yet to score.

After the resumption, Lugg was able to add only six runs to his total before Hayden Walsh Jr tempted him into a false shot and got his wicket.

Palmer Jr and new batsman Mansingh then added 72 runs for the fifth wicket before the skipper became Cornwall’s second victim, falling for 47 in the 57th over. Cornwall got his second wicket of the over when he bowled Jamie Merchant for a duck to leave the Scorpions 185-6.

The Jamaicans added just one more run before stumps, ending the day on 186-6, trailing the Hurricanes by 74 runs. Mansingh ended the day on 34 while Gordon Bryan is yet to get off the mark.

Scores: Leeward Islands Hurricanes 260 off 118.3 overs (Jeremiah Louis 78*, Jahmar Hamiton 40, Marquino Mindley 3-29, Abhijai Mansingh 3-47) Jamaica Scorpions 186-6 off 60 overs (Leroy Lugg 79, Paul Palmer Jr 47, Abhijai Mansingh 34*, Rakheem Cornwall 3-47, Colin Archibald 2-37).

 

 

 

Former West Indies Under-19 Captain Kimani Melius struck his maiden century in First-class cricket to put the Windward Islands Volcanoes in a strong position against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force after day three of their West Indies Championship fixture at the St. George’s Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.

The Volcanoes began the day on 62 without loss after 16 overs, trailing the Red Force by 10 runs with Melius on 39 and Jerlani Robinson on 20.

Robinson added a further three runs to his overnight score before he was dismissed by Khary Pierre in the 19th over, bringing Kavem Hodge to the crease to join Melius.

The pair put the Red Force bowling to the sword with the 22-year-old Melius bringing up his fifty off 73 balls in the 27th over.

Hodge brought up his 14th first class fifty off 116 balls in the 52nd over. The very next ball saw Melius bring up his hundred off 138 balls.

The 69th over saw Melius bring up his 150 off 190 balls, before, nine overs later, Hodge was finally dismissed by Bryan Charles for a 195-ball 80 ending a 209-run second wicket partnership between the pair.

At tea, The Windwards were 282-2, leading the Red Force by 211 runs with Melius unbeaten on 169 and Captain Alick Athanaze on one.

Melius and Athanaze put on a further 43 runs after tea before Melius was finally dismissed LBW by Charles for 192 in the 96th over. His knock came off 269 deliveries and included 18 fours and three sixes.

The Volcanoes ended the day 397-3, leading by 325 runs with Athanaze (49) and Sunil Ambris (42) at the crease.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 243 off 63.1 overs (Tevyn Walcott 87*, Sunil Ambris 55, Bryan Charles 4-46, Terrance Hinds 4-72) & 397-3 off 108 overs (Kimani Melius 192, Kavem Hodge 80, Alick Athanaze 49*, Sunil Ambris 42*, Bryan Charles 2-92)

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 315 off 92.1 overs (Amir Jangoo 86, Tion Webster 79, Terrance Hinds 52, Ryan John 5-18, Darius Martin 2-80)

 

Usman Khawaja travelled to India on Thursday after a resolution was found to the visa problem that saw him left behind when Australia Test team-mates departed.

The top-order batter had been due to fly out with Australia's players and staff across Tuesday and Wednesday amid a series of staggered flights.

That did not come to pass, with Khawaja remaining in Sydney amid issues with his visa in relation to his roots in Pakistan, the country of his birth.

Khawaja, 36, was born in Islamabad, and this was not the first time he has encountered issues in attempting to enter India to play cricket.

Yet this delay was only a short one, with Khawaja able to make the trip on Thursday.

He posted a picture of himself on board an aeroplane in Australia team leisurewear, adding the hashtags #incoming and #khawajyenroute.

Australia and India are due to contest the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the coming weeks.

The four-match Test series begins on February 9 at Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, with games in Delhi, Dharamshala and Ahmedabad to follow.

Khawaja has played multiple times in India in the past, including in the Indian Premier League with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016, and scored two centuries during an ODI tour in 2019.

In 2011, however, Khawaja was blocked from securing a visa for the T20 Champions League for New South Wales before the Indian high commission intervened.

Australia will be thankful he is available this time, given Khawaja enjoyed a remarkable 2022, earning a recall to the red-ball squad and top-scoring with 496 runs during their first tour of Pakistan since 1998.

He was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year alongside team-mates Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon.

Khawaja was also named Australia's Test Player of the Year award this week, collecting the Shane Warne Award.

The match between Windward Islands Volcanoes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force is interestingly poised at the end of day two of their West Indies Championship match at St George’s on Wednesday.

At stumps, the Windwards batting a second time are 62-0, just 12 runs behind after Trinidad and Tobago scored 315 in their first innings in reply to the Volcanoes 243.

Tevyn Walcott top-scored with 87.

Trinidad and Tobago owed their first innings lead to late order 50s from Amir Jangoo, who top scored with 86, Tion Webster’s 79 and Terrance Hinds’ 52.

The trio managed to rescue their side from 82-5 in the 41st over. However, Webster and Jangoo put on 138 for the sixth wicket, which was followed by a 78 run stand between Hinds and Jangoo, which established a lead.

Ryan John was the chief wicket-taker with the impressive figures of 5-18.

At stumps, Kimani Melius is unbeaten on 39 and Jerlani Robinson on 20.

Over at North Sound, Guyana Harpy Eagles were 205-5 at stumps on the opening day of their match against the Barbados Pride thanks to an unbeaten 70 from Matthew Nandu.

Akeem Jordan has so far taken 2-34 while Chiam Holder has snared 2-36.

Meanwhile, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes were in a spot of bother against Jamaica at Coolidge Cricket Ground. At stumps they were 163-6.

Jahmar Hamilton is the top scorer so far but the dangerous Rahkeem Cornwall is not out on 28 and Jeremiah Lewis, 17.

Abhijai Mansingh has taken 2-27 for the Scorpions.

 

 

 

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