ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Front-runners Guyana Jaguars suffered a rare batting failure – triggered by Rahkeem Cornwall – but hit back before the close in the feature match of the West Indies Championship on Thursday.

The Jags, playing their first match without regular head coach Esuan Crandon, were dismissed for less than 200, but made early inroads into the Hurricanes batting to restore parity at the Guyana National Stadium on the first day of fifth round matches.

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At the same time – Veteran left-handed opener Devon Smith struck his 36th first-class hundred, as Windward Islands Volcanoes kept under-pressure Jamaica Scorpions in the field all day at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium.

And, long-serving all-rounder Kevin Stoute celebrated his recall to Barbados Pride by leading the demolition of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force batting with a career-best spell at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Jaguars (196) vs Hurricanes 57-3 in Providence, Guyana

Off-spinner Cornwall led the destruction of the Jaguars batting with 4-70 from 21.5 overs and Jamaican leg-spinner Damion Jacobs supported with 3-15 from 11 overs, as the Jags were dismissed in the first hour after tea.

Christopher Barnwell struck 11 boundaries in the top score of 58 from 83 balls in a 1 ½ hour stay at the crease, Jaguars captain Leon Johnson made 44 and WINDIES all-rounder Keemo Paul blitzed 32 from 41 balls down the order.

The hosts were making steady progress at 148 for three – but they lost their last seven wickets for 48 runs in 95 balls.

The Jaguars pacers however, fought back in the 1 ½ hours available before stumps were drawn, removing the Hurricanes top order – including their captain and WINDIES left-hander opener Kieran Powell – cheaply.

Powell was lbw to Clinton Pestano for four in the sixth over, fellow opener Montcin Hodge was caught at square leg for 16 off Paul and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul added the scalp of Keacy Carty caught close in for 12.

Volcanoes 263-6 vs Scorpions in St. George’s, Grenada

The 37-year-old Smith hit 16 fours in 124 from 208 balls in 4 ½ hours in the middle to lead a strong batting performance from the Volcanoes.

Kavem Hodge extended his good form with 56 and wicketkeeper/batsman Denis Smith ended the day unbeaten on 36.

Dennis Bulli led the Scorpions attack in the absence of veteran, fellow left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, claiming 5-94 from 22 overs.

Bulli put Scorpions in charge early, taking all the wickets, as the hosts stumbled to 61 for three. He trapped Taryck Gabriel lbw for 10 at the start of the second hour before he bowled Tyrone Theophile and captain Kirk Edwards, both for six.

Devon Smith and Hodge, who faced 96 balls in 137 minutes and counted five boundaries, came together to prop up the innings in a fourth-wicket stand of 144.

When Bulli broke the stand having Smith stumped, Volcanoes lost three wickets for two runs before Denis Smith and Sherman Lewis, unbeaten on 16, combined in an unbroken 56-run, seventh wicket stand to frustrate Scorpions.

Red Force (170) vs Pride 52-3 in Tarouba, Trinidad

Stoute grabbed 6-35 from 20.4 overs and Jamaican fast-medium bowler Marquino Mindley supported with 2-34 from 12 overs, as the Red Force were dismissed in the first hour after tea.

Yannic Cariah with 36 and fellow left-hander, opener Jeremy Solozano with 20 were the only two players to reach 20.

Red Force lost half of their batting before they reached 100 and lost their last five wickets for 62.

In an hour before the close, Red Force removed the Pride top order cheaply.