Record partnerships for Barbados and Windwards as second day come alive

Preston McSween hit a career-best scores as he led a record last-wicket partnership for Windward Islands Volcanoes on the second day pf the opening round of matches in the West Indies Championship first-class tournament. Resuming on 278-9 at the Queen’s Park Oval, Volcanoes rallied to 339 all out thanks to McSween who converted his overnight 46 into a career-best 86, in a 124-run last wicket stand with Sherman Lewis (31 not out). Overall, McSween hit nine fours and two sixes in an innings lasting 103 balls.

Scoreboard here: https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/210950/#scorecard

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie snatched the last wicket to end with four for 62 while seamer Paul (3-84) and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (3-88) finished with three wickets apiece. At the close, Guyana reached 181-5, with Vishaul Singh on 40, having put on a valuable 40 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand with Keemo Paul (20 not out) to halt the slide. Fast bowlers Lewis (3-47) and McSween (2-44), who had earlier haunted Harpy Eagles with the bat, returned to hurt them with the ball.

Over at Kensington Oval: Shane Dowrich made a rousing return with an authoritative half-century to put Barbados Pride in control of their against Leeward Islands Hurricanes. The experienced keeper carved out 86 as the hosts piled up 324 all out, to take a 152-run lead into the third day on Friday.

Scoreboard here:https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/210949/#scorecard

Former West Indies Under-19 World Cup winner, Shamar Springer, top-scored with a superb 91, combining with Dowrich in a record 175-run, sixth wicket to dig Pride out of trouble at 124 for five, in reply to Hurricanes’ 172-9 declared on Wednesday’s opening day. Dowrich faced 154 deliveries in 4-¼ hours and counted nine fours while the 24-year-old Springer lashed seven fours and three sixes off 181 balls in almost 3-½ hours at the crease.

Once the partnership was broken, however, the hosts lost their last five wickets for only 25 runs with West Indies off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall claiming four for 99 and new-ball seamer Colin Archibald taking 3-47.

Over at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Yannic Cariah stroked 72 and fellow left-hander Isaiah Rajah hit an unbeaten 58 as Red Force batted the entire day to end on 234-6 against Jamaica Scorpions.

Scoreboard here:https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/210951/#scorecard

Resuming from their overnight 98-3 , Red Force lost two early wickets to slide to 118-5 , with Test wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva added just five to his 32 at the start and Jyd Goolie falling cheaply for six.

However, Cariah struck five fours in a solid 223-ball knock while Rajah faced 168 balls and counted seven fours, the pair putting on 116 for the sixth wicket Nicholson Gordon added a scalp to finish with 3-51 while fellow pacer Marquino Mindley claimed two for 52. Red Force lead by 92 runs after Scorpions were dismissed for 141 on the opening day.