Johnson, Singh anchor Jaguars to easy victory over Scorpions; Cornwall, Boatswain defy Ambris to lead Hurricanes past Volcanoes

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Barbados Pride captain Jonathan Carter struck a career-best, fifth first-class hundred, as his side defied the odds and stunned Trinidad & Tobago Red Force with a four-wicket, come-from-behind victory in the West Indies Championship on Sunday.

Carter hit an unbeaten 149, as the Pride recovered from a disastrous morning period in the contest at Kensington Oval to complete the fourth-highest successful run chase in West Indies first-class history to collect their third win of the season on the final day of seventh-round matches.

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At the same – Test batsmen Leon Johnson and Vishaul Singh shared 78 – unbroken – for the fourth wicket, as leaders Guyana Jaguars remained on course for their fifth straight Championship title with a seven-wicket win over Jamaica Scorpions at the Guyana National Stadium.

And, off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall and fast-medium bowler Quinton Boatswain combined for eight wickets to top Sunil Ambris’ seventh first-class hundred and trigger a dramatic Windward Island Volcanoes batting collapse that handed Leeward Islands Hurricanes a 12-run victory at Windsor Park.

Red Force (358 & 247-6 dec) lost to Pride (282) & 326-6 by four wickets in Bridgetown, Barbados

Carter had the thrill of hitting the winning runs, when he smashed off-spinner Bryan Charles over long-off for the last of his four sixes.

He also lashed 14 fours in his innings which spanned 185 balls in just over 4 ½ hours at the crease during which he shared 128 for the sixth wicket with former WINDIES Under-19 World Cup-winning star Shamar Springer and 94 – unbroken – for the seventh wicket with wicketkeeper/batsman Tevyn Walcott.

Springer, playing only his fourth first-class game, made a composed 66 and Walcott was not out on 48 to follow up his first innings half-century.

Red Force left-arm medium-fast bowler Daniel St Clair scalped two wickets, but the visitors’ spin trio of leg-spinners Imran Khan and Yannic Cariah, along with Charles, all proved ineffective, after the Pride ran into trouble on 104 for five.

It was the Pride’s highest successful run chase, surpassing 314 against the Scorpions in the 2016-17 season at the same venue.

Scorpions (358 & 132) lost to Jaguars (321) & 171-3 by seven wickets in Providence, Guyana

Johnson was unbeaten on 61 that included 10 fours and a six from 86 balls, and Singh was not out on 26, as they guide the Jags past their target of 169 for victory

Openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj had given the Jaguars a solid start 57, but the home team stumbled to 93 for three before the left-handed pair of Johnson and Singh ensured their side ended their losing streak.

Hurricanes (271 & 199) beat Volcanoes (230 & 228) by 12 runs in Roseau, Dominica

Cornwall continued his impressive form this season, taking 5-79 from 27 overs, and Boatswain captured 3-5 in 2.4 overs, as the Volcanoes failed to build on a defiant, undefeated 102 from Ambris.

The Volcanoes had seemed on track for victory, coasting at 135 for two at one stage with Ambris, whose knock included five fours and one six from 139 balls, leading the charge.

Three wickets in 35 balls left the Volcanoes wobbling on 152 for five, but Ambris anchored a stand of 70 with Ray Jordan to leave the home team, requiring only 19 more to win.

But in a spectacular turn of events, the Volcanoes would lost their last five wickets for six, with their last four batsmen all scoring ducks.

-ENDS-

RESULTS OF MATCHES

ROUND 1

Thursday, December 6 to Sunday, December 9

Volcanoes lost to Jaguars by 125 runs – Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia

Pride lost to Hurricanes by 34 runs – Three Ws Oval, Barbados

ROUND 2

Thursday, December 13 to Sunday, December 16

Pride beat Scorpions by 41 runs – Three Ws Oval

Hurricanes lost to Jaguars by 9 wickets – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua

Red Force lost to Volcanoes by 76 runs – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

ROUND 3

Friday, January 4 to Monday, January 7

Scorpions lost to Volcanoes by 5 wickets – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Red Force lost to Hurricanes by 245 runs – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

Pride lost to Jaguars by 6 wickets – Kensington Oval, Barbados

ROUND 4

Thursday, January 10 to Sunday, January 13

Scorpions lost to Red Force by 157 runs – Sabina Park

Jaguars beat Volcanoes by 8 wickets – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

ROUND 5

Thursday, January 17 to Sunday, January 20

Jaguars lost to Hurricanes by 2 wickets – Guyana National Stadium

Red Force lost to Pride by 7 wickets – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

Volcanoes lost to Scorpions by 4 wickets – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

ROUND 6

Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3

Hurricanes lost to Scorpions by 1 wicket – Warner Park, St. Kitts

Red Force beat Jaguars by 93 runs – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Pride lost to Volcanoes by 8 wickets – Kensington Oval

ROUND 7

Thursday, February 7 to Sunday, February 10

Jaguars beat Scorpions by 7 wickets – Guyana National Stadium

Pride beat Red Force by 4 wickets – Kensington Oval

Volcanoes lost to Hurricanes by 12 runs – Windsor Park, Dominica

SCHEDULE OF MATCHES

(All matches start at 10 am daily, except where indicated)

ROUND 1

Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17

Red Force vs Scorpions – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

ROUND 4

Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17

Hurricanes vs Pride – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

ROUND 8

Thursday, February 21 to Sunday, February 24

Hurricanes vs Red Force – Warner Park

Scorpions vs Jaguars – Sabina Park

Volcanoes vs Pride – Arnos Vale Sports Complex, St. Vincent

ROUND 9

Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 3

Scorpions vs Hurricanes – Sabina Park

Jaguars vs Pride – Guyana National Stadium

Volcanoes vs Red Force – Arnos Vale Sports Complex

ROUND 10

Thursday, March 7 to Sunday, March 10

Scorpions vs Pride – Sabina Park

Jaguars vs Red Force – Guyana National Stadium (2 pm start daily)

Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

-CWI