Ambris maiden ton places Windwards in commanding position

THANKS to a maiden ton from 20-year-old debutant Sunil Ambris, the visiting Windward Islands lineup were in a commanding position at the end of the first day of their third round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day clash against Guyana at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday.

Winning the toss and opting to take first strike on a sluggish track in slightly overcast conditions, the Windward Islands reached 65 from 25.3 overs and were 78 for 3 before ending the day on 289 for 6 off 93 overs, with Liam Sebastien and Alston Bobb their not-out batsmen on 60 and 4 respectively.
Veerasammy Permaul has so far taken 3 for 69 and Barnwell 2 for 42 for Guyana, whose bowling lacked penetration during the post-tea session and midway the final session, until Ambris played a tired shot to Barnwell and was lbw.
They lost their first wicket, that of Devon Smith 28 (73 balls, 4×4), who was caught by Assad Fudadin at forward short-leg off Veerasammy Permaul, but Ambris’ 114 (238 mins, 200 192 balls 17×4), placed them in the driver’s seat at the close of play.
Earlier, Smith pulled a delivery from Keon Joseph – preferred instead of Raun Johnson, as Guyana went into the game with one fast bowler – through backward square leg for four.
The same bowler, who was guilty of bowling short of a length throughout the day, was pulled by Tyrone Theophile over backward square leg for six as Windwards reached their first 50 from 17.1 overs, with Smith on 18 and Theophile 30.
Following the demise of Smith, the visitors lost Keddy Lesporis (0) and Theophile 42 (102 balls, 103 mins, 4×4; 1×6) to the guile of Permaul, as they took the lunch break on 85 for 3 from 36 overs, with Sunil Ambris 12 and Romel Currency 1.
After the break, they got to 100 from 40.4 overs, with Ambris who struck a delivery from Devendra Bishoo back over his head for four on 16 and Currency 13, but lost Currency (15) when he edged one through to Anthony Bramble off Bishoo at 107 for 4.
At this stage, Sebastien joined Ambris who got to his 50 from 107 balls, counting seven fours while batting for 115 minutes for his team who were 156 for 4 off 59 overs at that stage, with Sebastien on 15 and they added 156 for the fifth wicket from 41.5 overs, with 20 fours.

A pair of boundaries by Sebastien off Narsingh Deonarine, who opened the bowling and did so for 16 consecutive overs before being replaced by Bishoo, followed by a four that was driven exquisitely through extra cover by Ambris off Bishoo pushed Windward Islands to 180 for 4.
At tea, they were 186 for 4 off 72 overs, with Ambris who was given a life by Fudadin, on 63, and Sebastien 29 and they got the 200 from an additional 4.5 overs after the break, thanks to four leg byes that beat Bramble down the leg side.
The duo brought up their 100 partnership for the fifth wicket from 201 balls in 121 minutes in which they struck 13 fours, with Ambris on 75 and Sebastien, who was later dropped by Fudadin at slip off Barnwell, on 33, when Ambris drove Permaul for his 11th four.
Ambris brought up his maiden ton by steering Joseph through the slip cordon and celebrated with two more fours in the same over, as the Guyanese bowlers lacked penetration in sweltering heat, even as the batsmen composed themselves.
Barnwell returned to remove Ambris via lbw for a well-played 114 (200 balls, 218 mins, 17×4) and followed it up with the wicket of Lyndon James (0) who was lbw first ball, leaving the Windwards on 263 for 6.
Sebastien hit Fudadin exquisitely through extra cover for four, before realising his ninth first-class half-century at this level, using 187 mins during which he faced 117 balls, hitting Barnwell along the ground for his seventh four, as he took his team to safety at the close.

SCORECARD

WINDWARD ISLANDS first innings
D. Smith c Fudadin b Permaul 28
T. Theophile lbw b Permaul 42
S. Ambris lbw b Barnwell 114
K. Lesporis c wkp. Bramble b Permaul 0
R. Currency c wkp. Bramble b Bishoo 15
L. Sebastien not out 60
L. James lbw b Barnwell 0
A. Bobb not out 4
Extras: (b-8, nb-3, lb-14, w-1) 26
Total: (for 6 wkts, off 93 overs) 289
Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-78, 3-78, 4-107, 5-263, 6-263.
Bowling: Deonarine 23-9-48-0 Joseph 7-0-52-0 (nb-3), Barnwell 16-4-42-2 (w-1), Permaul 25-5-69-3, Bishoo 21-8-44-1, Fudadin 1-0-12-0.

(By Calvin Roberts)