with career-best seven for 41
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – Off-spinner Omari Banks snatched career-best first class figures to put Leeward Islands in a strong position against the Windward Islands in their fifth round WICB regional first class match yesterday.
The discarded West Indies all-rounder ploughed through the Windwards innings to finish with seven for 41 and send them tumbling for 204 on the second day of the contest, in response to the Leewards’ 325 all out.
Banks’ performance enabled the Leewards to take first innings points and a handsome lead of 121 runs. They had extended their advantage to 143 runs at the close at Bourda, reaching 22 without loss in their second innings.
Cruising at one stage at 81 for one, the Windwards saw their last eight wickets tumble for a mere 123 runs thanks to some accurate bowling from Banks, who troubled all the batsmen with his flight and variation.
Only Shane Shillingford (52), Andre Fletcher (50) and Devon Smith (34) offered any resistance to Banks, who was supported by West Indies seamer Lionel Baker with two for 42.
Shillingford’s belligerent innings contained eight powerfully struck boundaries and two massive sixes, and came off 76 balls in 89 minutes.
Fletcher’s knock was a typically stroke-filled one, laced with seven fours and a solitary six off 82 balls, while opener Smith’s knock included six fours off 52 balls.
Keddy Lesporis fell cheaply for 11 to Baker but Smith and Fletcher posted 65 for the second wicket before Smith was yorked by leg-spinner Anthony Martin attempting an aggressive shot at 81 for two.
Banks then started his rout, having Liam Sebastien caught by Justin Athanaze at first slip for four and new batsman Donwell Hector lasted just one delivery, as he edged to wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton at 92 for four.
Lyndon James denied Banks his hat-trick but became his third victim at 102 for five when he was snapped up by Mali Richards at short mid-off for 10.
Wickets continued to tumble but Shillingford and Deighton Butler (15), held up the Leewards with a face-saving, 44-run eighth wicket stand before Baker picked up his second wicket by having Butler caught at the wicket.
Kenroy Peters (11) joined Shillingford to add a further 34 for the ninth wicket but Leewards maintained their dominance in picking up the last two wickets cheaply.
Earlier, the Leewards lost their last five wickets for 71 runs after resuming at their overnight on 254 for five.
Hamilton finished unbeaten on 40 while Banks carried his overnight 18 to 30.
Lewis finished with three for 77 with his leg-spin while fast bowler Nelon Pascal (2-42), left-arm medium pacer Peters (2-55) and off-spinner Shillingford (2-89) picked up two wickets apiece.