Jaguars take 188-run, first innings lead over Pride; Red Force under pressure against Hurricanes; Volcanoes, Scorpions in titanic battle

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua– All three matches in the West Indies Championship seem headed for intriguing finishes after play on Sunday.

Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul helped bowl front-runners and four-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars to a 188-run, first-innings lead over the star-studded Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval on the third day of the third round of matches, leaving the visitors to decide overnight if to enforce the follow-on.

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Meantime, Rovman Powell, the WINDIES One-day International captain for the Tour of Bangladesh last month, snared two scalps to leave the Windward Islands Volcanoes pursuit of 287 for victory delicately poised against the Jamaica Scorpions in their day/night contest at Sabina Park.

And, first innings century-maker Montcin Hodge fashioned an unbeaten half-century to follow up a four-wicket haul from irrepressible off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, as Leeward Islands Hurricanes left Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to chase 342 for victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Jaguars (548) vs Pride (360) in Bridgetown, Barbados

Permaul spearheaded the Jaguars’ attack with 4-124 from 35 overs, but Dowrich defied the Jaguars’ attack with the top score of 81 that included 11 fours and two sixes from 113 balls in close to 2 ½ hours at the crease and Carter supported with 68 decorated with nine fours from 127 balls in 3 ¼ hours of batting.

The pair shared 141 for the fifth wicket, as the Pride, resuming on 33 for one, batted the entire day before being dismissed on the stroke of the close, leaving Jaguars’ captain Leon Johnson and management overnight to decide on the follow-on and their bowlers to get a good night’s rest.

Pride consolidated early through a 73-run, second-wicket stand between WINDIES Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite with 43 and their captain Shamarh Brooks with 34 – but they slumped to 123 for four before Dowrich and Carter came to the rescue.

The home team were set back however, when they both fell in the last 20 minutes before tea and it was left to WINDIES Test and ODI captain Jason Holder with 44 and the lower order to keep them afloat.

Scorpions (210 & 189) vs Volcanoes (113) & 176-4 in Kingston, Jamaica

Volcanoes captain and Test batsman Kirk Edwards was not out on 35 and former WINDIES Under-19 batsman Kavem Hodge was not out 15, carrying the fight for the visitors to collect the remaining 110 needed for victory into the final day.

Former WINDIES Under-19 batsman Roland Cato hit eight fours in 54 from 144 balls and veteran left-hander Devon Smith made 44 in a second-wicket stand of 68 that gave the Volcanoes a strong start to the chase.

But they were both swept away, along with WINDIES batsman Sunil Ambris before the close to leave the run chase in a shaky position.

Earlier, a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket between Assad Fudadin and Aldaine Thomas failed to inspire the Scorpions and they were bowled out before the interval.

Fudadin ended with the top score of 48, Thomas made 31 and the remaining batsman offered token resistance only.

Josh Thomas was the most successful Volcanoes bowler with 4-44 from 19 overs.

Hurricanes (425 & 168-6 dec) vs Red Force (252) & 26-0 in Tarouba, Trinidad

Test batsman Kyle Hope was not out on six and former WINDIES Under-19 left-hander Jeremy Solozano was not out on 16, as Red Force made a resolute start to their chase.

But they were put under further pressure following an unbeaten 77 from opener Hodge.

He struck 10 fours from 131 balls in nearly 3 ¼ hours, putting on 43 for the third wicket with Devon Thomas and 39 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall, who made 22, before the Hurricanes declared, leaving themselves about 40 minutes before the close to bowl at the Red Force.

Earlier, Cornwall ended with 4-73 from 37 overs and WINDIES fast bowler Alzarri Joseph finished with 3-80 from 17 overs to help bowl the Hurricanes to a 173-run, first innings lead.

Solozano was the Red Force top-scorer with 80 and a string of small partnerships helped to push the home team to a respectable total.

-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 nine wickets – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua

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

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 3

Friday, January 4 to Monday, January 7

Scorpions vs Volcanoes – Sabina Park, Jamaica (2 pm start daily)

Red Force vs Hurricanes – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

Pride vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval, Barbados

ROUND 4

Thursday, January 10 to Sunday, January 13

Scorpions vs Red Force – Sabina Park

Jaguars vs Volcanoes – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana (9:30 am start daily)

Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17

Hurricanes vs Pride – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

ROUND 5

Thursday, January 17 to Sunday, January 20

Jaguars vs Hurricanes – Guyana National Stadium (9:30 am start daily)

Red Force vs Pride – Brian Lara Cricket Academy (2 pm start daily)

Volcanoes vs Scorpions – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

ROUND 6

Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3

Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Warner Park, St. Kitts (2 pm start daily)

Red Force vs Jaguars – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Pride vs Volcanoes – Kensington Oval

ROUND 7

Thursday, February 7 to Sunday, February 10

Jaguars vs Scorpions – Guyana National Stadium

Pride vs Red Force – Kensington Oval

Volcanoes vs Hurricanes – Windsor Park, Dominica

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