BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A career-best hundred from Devon Thomas followed by a destructive spell from West Indies off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall propelled hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a 198-run victory over defending champions Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup on Wednesday.
Leewards v CCC!💪🏾 The rivalries have already begun in Warner Park!🇰🇳 Get your tickets to Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup on https://t.co/RET8xTQxa4#LEEvCCC #WhoYouReppinpic.twitter.com/PoB55E7HJD— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) November 6, 2019
Thomas, who celebrates his 30th birthday in nine days’ time, cracked 10 fours and one six in a polished 105 from 94 balls to post the first hundred of this year’s Super50 Cup in the tournament opener, a day/night, Group “A” contest at Warner Park.
Way to start the rivalry!⚔️ Devon Thomas scores the 1st Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup Century!💯 His 2nd hundred for the Leewards! 👏🏾 #WhoYouReppin #Super50 pic.twitter.com/yxkyU7Y6Lm— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) November 6, 2019
It was Thomas’ second West Indies Super50 hundred and he shared half-century stands with left-hander Amir Jangoo, Akeem Saunders and his captain Jahmar Hamilton that formed the backbone of the Hurricanes’ total of 292 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs.
Cornwall then grabbed 4-21 from 5.3 overs and hometown pacer Sheno Berridgesupported with 3-20 from eight overs to lead the demolition of the Marooners batting for 94 in 31.3 overs.
The result gave the Hurricanes four points and their second largest victory (runs) in West Indies Super50 Cup history.
View full scorecard here: https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/203387/
Cornwall put the Marooners under early pressure when he struck in each of his first three overs, removing Romaine Morris bowled for two, Akshaya Persaud caught at forward short leg also for two and Paul Palmer lbw for six, playing defensively forward.
Marooners were 15 for three after six overs and the wickets of Jonathan Drakes, Odaine McCatty and Larry Joseph sunk them to 39 for six.
Drakes was caught at first slip from a top-edged cut off Berridge, McCatty failed to make use of a reprieve on 14 and was caught at slip off the first delivery from left-arm spinner Jason Campbell and Larry Joseph was caught at mid-wicket from a miscued pull at a short delivery from Jeremiah Louis.
Left-hander Jerlarnie Seales arrived to hit the top score of 39 and lead a period of resistance, adding 47 for the seventh wicket with Jordan, whose dismissal, bowled dragging on a short ball from Berridge, signalled the beginning of the end for the Marooners.
With Marooners captain Kyle Corbin unable to bat, due to a finger injury he sustained while fielding during the Hurricanes’ innings, the result was formalised when Jerlanie Seales was caught at mid-wicket to become the final scalp for Cornwall.
Earlier, Hurricanes made a steady start after they were sent in to bat on a typically easy-paced pitch, but they laboured to 67 for two in the 19th over before Thomas came to the crease and put on 51 for the third wicket with Jangoo.
After Jangoo was caught at deep extra cover from a lofted drive, Thomas shared 54 for the fourth wicket with Akeem Saunders during which he reached his 50.
The dismissals of Saunders and Cornwall in the 38th and 42nd overs respectively, put a dent in the plans of the Hurricanes for a strong closing flourish, but their captain Jahmar Hamilton came to the crease and added 56 for the sixth wicket with Thomas to get their plans back on track.
Thomas steered his 91st ball to third man to reach his hundred before he fell in the penultimate over trying to increase the tempo.
Devon Thomas took the Player of the Match for an electric 105 off just 94 balls v the defending Champions! Leewards’ victory was their 2nd highest margin win in #Super50 history…198 runs! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #LEEvCCC#WhoYouReppin pic.twitter.com/j1RWF9SN1o— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) November 7, 2019
Source: CWI Media
