Anderson puts Academy in driver’s seat with “best innings” of 153
Headley Weekes Tri-Series
Team Headley v West Indies Academy
Day 2 of Match 1
Toss: Team Headley
Scorecard: http://bit.ly/hwtriseriesacadvhead
A well-constructed maiden first-class century from Kevlon Anderson enabled the West Indies Academy to take a 64-run, first-innings lead against Team Headley in the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series on Thursday in Antigua.
The right-hander led the way with 153 before the Academy was bowled out for 323, replying to the Team Headley first innings total of 259, on a day of attrition in this four-day, first-class match.
The 22-year-old struck 22 boundaries from 283 balls in a six-and-a-half hour stay at the crease. He shared three crucial stands with opener Kirk McKenzie, skipper Nyeem Young, and opening-day bowling hero Johan Layne.
“It’s one of the best innings I have ever played,” he told CWI Media in a post-play interview. “There was some concentration problems I was having before… I spoke with my skipper Leon Johnson (of Guyana Harpy Eagles) and the mental skills coach, and it really helped a lot in this innings. “I just tried to keep things simple, and remembered the message passed on from the coach, and I played my game. i kept it simple, and I just waited until the bowlers bowled in my areas, and then made use. Words can’t explain how I feel right now. It’s just the best feeling.”
Anderson added 84 with McKenzie for the third wicket, 80 with Young for the sixth wicket, and dominated a ninth-wicket stand of 102 with Layne. McKenzie supported with an even 50, Layne was not out on 38, and Young made 27, and the Academy extended their innings to have a firm grip on the match.
Justin Greaves was the most successful Team Headley bowler, with 3-46 from 20 overs, pacer Marquino Mindley finished with 2-47 from 16 overs, and seamer Akeem Jordan bagged 2-77 from 21 overs.
Anderson had led an early recovery for the Academy with McKenzie when lost their first two wickets without a run on the board on Wednesday evening, and the pair extended their recovery operation before Greaves grabbed his three wickets in the span of 35 balls.
Greaves got McKenzie after the opener struck eight fours from 95 balls in 140 minutes at the crease before he had keeper-batsman Tevin Imlach caught behind for four, and Kevin Wickham plumb in front for five.
The Academy were 105-5, but Young came to the crease, and partnered Anderson past his 50 before falling to pacer Anderson Phillip to spark another slump in which three wickets fell in the space of 36 balls.
Mindley bowled Joshua Bishop for 12, and Ashmead Nedd for a three-ball ‘duck’ before Layne came out and ushered Anderson to his milestone and carry the Academy past Team Headley.
Team Headley ended the day on 27-1 with Sunil Ambris, a replacement for injured opener Shayne Moseley, not out 11 and Kavem Hodge not out on four, after left-hander Darren Bravo was trapped leg before wicket to Academy captain Nyeem Young for 12 in the penultimate over of the day.
The match will resume on Friday at 10am (9am Jamaica).
All matches in the Headley Weekes Tri-Series will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel with live scorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre.
-ENDS-