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Leon Johnson carried his bat to reach 150 not out off 254 balls as the Guyana Harpy Eagles added 10 runs to their overnight score to be all out for 278 runs. Then Nial Smith ran riot with the ball over the Jamaica Scorpions and the Guyana National Stadium on the second day of the fourth round of matches in the West Indies Championship first-class tournament.

Smith bagged the wickets of top order batters – Tevin Gilzene, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Paul Palmer – and allrounder Derval Green for 42 (89) to register a fifer, finishing the innings with figures of 7.5-1-39-5. Jamaica 115 all out in 35.5 overs. Veersammy Permaul continued his excellent season with figures of 11-3-22-3. Harpy Eagles secured a first innings lead of 163 runs.

Guyana’s second innings was in a spot of bother when they lost four wickets with the score on 33. But Tagenarine Chanderpaul dropped anchor along with Tevin Imlach to rescue the Harpy Eagles innings. Chanderpaul who made 0 in the first innings looked set to make amends, as he struck nine fours on his way to 60 (162) and Imlach five fours on his way to 50 (92, as the Harpy Eagles closed Day 2 on 138-4 a lead of 301 runs.

James hits maiden ton, Athanaze gets his second in even contest

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The Leeward Islands Hurricanes declared their first innings on 382-9 after Jeremiah Louis was dismissed for 45. Earlier in the morning, Kofi James struck his maiden first-class century from a patient 248 deliveries. His overnight partner Karima Gore fell seven runs agonizingly short of what would have been a century on debut, as Shermon Lewis wrapped up the last three wickets. He finished with first innings figures of 21.5-2-76-3.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes openers Teddy Bishop and Keron Cottoy were back in the dugout by the time the score reached 10 as Louis and Javier Spencer accounted for their respective wickets at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Then it was the best friends’ pair of skipper Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge who took the game to the Hurricanes. The pair scoring at just over four runs per over, took a liking to the spin of Rahkeem Cornwall and the pace of Devon Thomas. Athanaze was particularly stylish with his strokes, reverse sweeping Cornwall for a boundary. Athanaze brought up his second century this season, striking fifteen fours and six on his way to finish the day on 105 not out, with Hodge on 85 not out.

Pride holds slim lead over Red Force heading into Day 3

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Barbados Pride opener Zachary McCaskie missed out on a maiden first-class century when he was trapped LBW to Imran Khan for 92 (197) against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval . Roshon Primus scored his first half-century for Pride, reaching 53 (71), striking four fours and a six as he added 41 runs with Akeem Jordan 26 before Barbados were bowled out for 271, a lead of 68 runs. Imran Khan finished with figures of 25-1-86-4 followed by Anderson Phillip with 19-0-80-3.

The Red Force lost Vikash Mohan and Amir Jangoo early in their second innings, but skipper Darren Bravo steadied the ship as they closed the day on 31/2, still trailing Barbados by 37 runs. Akeem Jordan was again impressive with the new ball and picked up the two wickets to fall, to end the day with figures of 5-2-6-2.

Play continues in all three matches from 10am (9am Jamaica time) on Friday.

Fans can stream all West Indies Championship matches live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel and access live ball-by-ball scoring at http://windiescricket.com/ match center. Following the Championship, the new Headley Weekes Series will feature three teams and matches, drawing from top performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The Series will run from April 18 to May 6 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

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