WINDWARDS Islands Volcanoes batsman Devon Smith played his way into the record books with an unbeaten 151 not out against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in a drawn WPCL Regional 4-Day fixture at Warner Park on Sunday.
The battling second innings knock saw the in-form 36-year-old become the record-holder for the most runs scored in a single-season after amassing 1 095 runs in this campaign. Smith the fourth man to reach the 1 000-run mark, joined Narsingh Deonarine (1 068), the late Runako Morton (1 010) and veteran former West Indies and Barbados player Floyd Reifer (1 002).
The Grenadian, perhaps more significantly, also broke the all-time scoring record for the first class championship, and surpassed 13 000 first-class runs.
The match itself proved of very little significance. The Windwards, who were dismissed for 197 in the first innings after Smith went for a duck, found themselves on the back foot after the Leewards Islands posted 405-9 declared in their first turn at the crease.
The effort was led by Devon Thomas’ sparkling 172. In reply, the Windwards were in no mood to crumble twice as Smith’s effort backed up the 160 unbeaten from opener Tyrone Theophile, as the team posted 342-1 before the close of play.
Kirk Edwards was the lone wicket to fall after he was dismissed for 7 by Rahkeem Cornwall in the first five overs. The partnership between Theophile and Smith counted for 323 and was the highest of the season. It was also the sixth century of the season for Smith.
VOLCANOES 1st innings 197
HURRICANES 1st innings 405-9 decl’d
VOLCANOES 2nd innings (o/n 28 for one)
T. Theophile not out 160
K. Edwards lbw b Cornwall 6
D. Smith not out 152
Extras: (b-5, lb-5, nb-15) 25
Total: (1 wkt, 96.1 overs) 342
Fall of wicket: 1-19.
Bowling: Louis 16-3-3-8-0, Berridge 12-1-58-0, Cornwall 25-5-62-1, Tonge 13-4-47-0, Holder 16-2-43-0, Powell 3-0-25-0, Warde 8-0-37-0, Carty 3.1-0-22-0.