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 19^th 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 27^th over.

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

The 69^th 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 96^th 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)