GROS-ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Roston Chase struck his maiden hundred in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge to put Barbados in a strong position against Leeward Islands yesterday. Chase, in his third year, collected 20 fours in 135 in just over 4½ hours of batting, as Barbados, sent in to bat, reached 290 for five in their first innings at the close on the first day of their second round match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Chase shared two significant partnerships that put Barbados in firm control. He added 98 for the second wicket with Clint St Hill, and dominated a stand of 74 with Shai Hope.
St Hill made 46, and Hope just nine, but Kyle Mayers gathered 44 to keep the momentum going in a stand of 59 with Dario Cummins.
“When we found out that we were going to bat, my team-mates said that they were looking for a century from me knowing that I am a senior batsman,” said Chase in an interview with the Barbados Cricket Association’s website.
“I am now looking forward to scoring at least one more century while aiming for around 350 to 400 runs in the tournament.
“The pitch wasn’t fast, but it was quicker than the one for the first game. I started slowly as I didn’t quite pick up the pace, and my timing wasn’t quite right.”
Barbados started badly, when their captain Kraigg Brathwaite, their most accomplished batsman, was caught behind off Leewards captain Adelvin Phillips for three.
Brathwaite missed the first round of the competition, and only joined the team over the weekend, after returning on Friday from England with the West Indies A-Team.
Chase joined St Hill, and they made sure that was just a blip on the radar, and carried Barbados to 94 for one at lunch.
After the interval, St Hill fell in the first half-hour, and Hope came to the crease and batted doggedly to usher the fluent Chase to his milestone.
Hope batted for just close to 1½ hours, but fell just before tea, when he was caught behind off left-arm spinner Wasim Mintus, as Barbados reached 182 for three at the break.
After tea, Barbados continued to fortify their position, but Chase was caught at cover essaying a tired drive off Mintus.
Barbados were 213 for four, but Mayers continued to score freely with Cummins before Tevin Osbourne trapped him lbw in the last half-hour.
The Barbadians are tied for second with Trinidad & Tobago on six points, and Leewards are last with no points.
Barbados drew with Windward Islands in the opening round, when the Leewards slumped to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Guyana.