BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) –Shai Hope became only the eighth player to plunder a double hundred for Barbados Pride but undaunted Windward Islands Volcanoes produced a strong reply, to leave the ninth round WICB PCL contest evenly balanced after day two here yesterday.

The right-hander compiled a fabulous 211 after resuming the day on 134 as Barbados were dismissed for 480 in their first innings at Kensington Oval.
However, Tyrone Theophile carved out an unbeaten 51 and Test opener Devon Smith was unbeaten on 45, two innings that fired Windward Islands up to 107 without loss at the close.
They trail by 333 runs heading into Sunday’s third day.
With Barbados resuming on 287 for three, Hope took the opportunity to enforce the hosts’ dominance with a high quality innings.
All told, he hit 15 fours and a six, in an innings lasting 452 balls and 9-1/2 hours.
Along the way, he put on 87 for the fourth wicket with Roston Chase who hit 41 and a further 60 for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich who hit 28.
Even though wickets fell around him, Hope kept his wits about him to ensure the tail wagged. He put on 31 for the seventh wicket with Ashley Nurse whose 29 came at a run-a-ball, and 34 for the eighth wicket with Tino Best whose 21 came off 18 deliveries.
Hope reached his 150 inside the first hour’s play 401 minutes off 324 balls with ten fours.
He subsequently raised his double hundred with a cut to the backward point boundary off off-spinner Liam Sebastien, reaching the landmark off 444 balls, in 565 minutes with 15 fours.
He was last out, holing out to deep midwicket off off-spinner Shane Shillingford, on the stroke of tea.
Seamer Mervin Matthew claimed three for 54 while Sebastien (2-81) and Shillingford (2-136) supported with two wickets apiece.
Theophile and Smith then went about their innings with aplomb, to deny Barbados any success in the final session.
The right-handed Theophile has faced 105 balls and struck six fours and a six while the left-handed Smith has registered seven fours and a six off 97 deliveries.