Bryan Charles takes 6-48 to stuns Jamaica as red ball cricket returns

Devon Smith stroked his 64th first class half-century while off-spinner Bryan Charles snatched a six-wicket haul, to make headlines on the opening day of the first round of the West Indies Championship and first-class cricket made a rousing return on Wednesday.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Charles starred with 6-48 to send Jamaica Scorpions crashing for 141 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

West Indies Test vice-captain struck 44 off 72 balls with three fours, adding 64 for the second wicket with Test opener John Campbell who scored 25. Scoreboard here:https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/210951/#scorecard

However, Charles scythed through the innings as Scorpions lost six wickets for 25 runs, and the visitors needed Paul Palmer (24) to anchor a 33-run, eighth wicket stand with Marquino Mindley (22) to gather precious runs towards the end. Test seamer Jayden Seales supported Charles with 2-17.

In reply, Red Force finished on 98-3, 43 runs adrift of first innings lead, thanks to Test wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva who hit a patient unbeaten 32 to anchor a 34-run, third wicket stand with Jason Mohammed (22) and an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 40 with Yannic Cariah (11 not out).

At Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, the left-handed Smith carved out 52 as Windward Islands Volcanoes batted all day to reach 277-9 against Guyana Harpy Eagles. It moved his career tally to 14,733 runs in his 396th first-class innings.

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

However, it was former West Indies Under-19 batter Alick Athanaze who top-scored with 68, while Preston McSween frustrated Harpy Eagles with an unbeaten 46 late in the session.Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (3-61) and Veerasammy Permaul (3-75), along with resurgent fast-bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul (3-63), all finished with three wickets each.

Choosing to bat first, Volcanoes were carried initially by Smith who dominated an opening stand of 46 with Kimani Melius (3) and then captain Kavem Hodge (10) before adding a further 49 for the second with Athanaze. Melius was forced off in the seventh over after being struck on the helmet by fast bowler Clinton Pestano but later returned.

The left-handed Smith faced 87 balls and struck nine fours while the 23-year-old Athanaze, also left-handed, batted 134 balls and counted five fours. When Smith perished, edging Paul low down to captain Leon Johnson at first slip, Athanaze put on 62 for the third wicket with Cottoy and 33 for the fourth with Denis Smith (12).

Volcanoes then suffered a dramatic slide when six wickets tumbled for 25 runs to leave the innings in trouble on 215-9 but McSween blasted four fours and two sixes in a cameo 53-ball knock to lead a revival, in a 63-run, last wicket partnership with Sherman Lewis (14 not out).

At Kensington Oval in Barbados, the hosts took the honours when they reduced Leeward Islands Hurricanes to 172 for nine declared, and then closed on 27-0

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

Sent in, Hurricanes got a breezy 58 off 77 balls from Devon Thomas and 43 off 76 balls from opener Kieran Powell, while captain Jahmar Hamilton chipped in with 29. Fast bowler Keon Harding picked up 4-42. The lively Harding took the first wicket to fall when opener Montcin Hodge was held behind by keeper Shane Dowrich.

Powell, who punched eight fours, featured in a 52-run, second wicket stand with Keacy Carty (20) while Thomas produced a counter-attacking knock with half-dozen fours and three sixes – all over deep square leg into the Greenidge & Haynes Stand. He inspired a 72-run fifth wicket stand with Hamilton.However, Hurricanes lost five wickets for 11 runs in 49 deliveries as the innings declined rapidly.

Harding returned to have Powell caught at mid-on by Chemar Holder attempting a pull, Amir Jangroo edged a lifting delivery and was taken at slip by Kraigg Brathwaite and Nino Henry was snapped up at cover by Raymon Reifer from a fierce drive.