Brathwaite, Savory hundreds headline five on opening day

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite struck one of five centuries recorded on the opening day of the sixth round of matches in the West Indies Championship on Wednesday, to help Barbados Pride dominate Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
The 31-year-old opener, also the Pride skipper, finished on 117 not out as his side racked up 248 for three after choosing to bat first against Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

His opening partner Zachary McCaskie notched his maiden first class hundred with 101, the pair staging a partnership of 171 to lay the foundation for Pride’s domination.
Brathwaite faced 275 balls and struck 13 fours in gathering his 32nd first class hundred, reaching the landmark half-hour before the scheduled close with a single behind square off left-arm spinner Daniel Doram.

McCaskie, 27, was first to three figures, however, striking a dozen fours and two sixes in a knock which lasted 148 deliveries overall.
When the pair were separated when West Indies seamer Justin Greaves bowled McCaskie, Brathwaite put on a further 54 for the third wicket with Jonathan Drakes who made 22 before becoming the second of two victims for off-spinning captain Rahkeem Cornwall (2-70).

Perhaps the most crucial hundred of the day came from left-hander Kemol Savory who dug defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles out of trouble with a brilliant unbeaten 127 at Sabina Park in Kingston.
With his slide slumping at 61 for six just after lunch courtesy of incisive bursts from fast bowler Ojay Shields (3-56) and off-spinner Peat Salmon (2-64), the 27-year-old Savory carved out his second first class hundred to steer the innings to 278 for seven at the close.

Savory faced 251 balls and counted 14 fours and three sixes, and received stellar support from West Indies left-arm spinner Guadkesh Motie who belted 56 off 86 balls with eight fours and a six, the pair putting on 127 for the seventh wicket to blunt the Scorpions attack.

Captain Tevin Imlach, who retired hurt on one in the first session, returned to score an unbeaten 33 in a critical 90-run, unbroken eighth wicket stand with Savory, to add to the home side’s frustration.

On nine at lunch with Harpy Eagles on 58 for five, Savory marched to 62 at tea to guide the visitors to 169 for six, before reaching three figures in the final hour by sweeping leg-spinner Abhijai Mansingh to the backward square boundary.

The two other centuries came at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground at UWI St Augustine where veteran Jason Mohammed smashed 157 and Amir Jangoo stroked 151, to propel Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to 374 for four against Combined Campuses and Colleges.

Sent in, Red Force were going nowhere at 20 for two after fast bowler Amari Goodridge (3-37) removed both openers cheaply.
However, Mohammed initiated the revival, putting on 83 for the third wicket with Kjorn Ottley whose 47 came from 70 balls and included seven fours and a six, before combining with the left-handed Jangoo in a excellent 264-run, fourth wicket partnership.

The 37-year-old Mohammed faced 228 balls and lashed 22 fours in marking his 13th first class hundred while Jangoo, 26, gathered a pulsating maiden first class hundred in striking 13 fours and half-dozen sixes off only 163 deliveries.
At the Coolidge Cricket Ground here, left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop kept up his impressive form with four for 24 to carry his tally for the season to 33, as West Indies Academy bundled out Windward Islands Volcanoes for 162.

Fast bowler Johann Layne supported with three for 30 while Shamar Springer top-scored with a counter-attacking 31 from 43 balls to inspire a 42-run, eighth wicket stand with Ryan John (20).
In reply, WI Academy slipped to 18 for two before recovering through a 42-run, third wicket stand engineered by opener Kadeem Alleyne, whose 35 needed only 34 balls and included three fours and a six.
Once he was lbw to seamer Gilon Tyson (2-30), however, WI Academy lost their next three wickets for 16 runs to decline to 99 for five, before rain ended play prematurely.