Windward Islands Volcanoes staged a late fightback against Barbados Pride on the opening day of action in the crucial sixth-round matches in the West Indies Championship on Wednesday.
The Volcanoes struck in the evening session to reduce the Pride to 94 for five after they were bundled out for 186.
Playing at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Pride were in control of their contest against the Windward Islands Volcanoes but lost two late wickets to concede their advantage.
Despite a battling ninth first-class century from Sunil Ambris, the Pride produced a disciplined bowling performance to rout the home side for just 186.
Ambris was the backbone of the home side’s innings, scoring 110 from 116 balls with 13 fours and one six, but he got little support from the other batters.
The Pride would actually have been disappointed the Volcanoes got to their eventual total after claiming three early wickets with just one run on the board.
Both openers Kimani Melius and Jeremy Solozano were dismissed for ducks, while captain Alick Athanaze made just one as the Volcanoes made a disastrous start.
Pacer Ramon Simmonds claimed his second wicket by dismissing Kavem Hodge for six and left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes trapped Shadrack Descarte lbw for three to leave them in even further trouble at 36 for five.
Ambris and Noelle Leo, who made 27, stemmed the flow of wickets by adding 36 runs for the sixth wicket before Leo fell to leg spinner Jomel Warrican.
Ryan John made 10 before becoming fast bowler Jair McAllister’s first wicket and the Volcanoes seemed in danger of being bowled out for under a hundred as they slipped to 86 for seven.
However, Kenneth Dember joined forces with Ambris and the two frustrated the Pride’s attempts to wrap up the innings during a 62-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Dember eventually fell to pacer Matthew Forde after scoring a patient 14 from 55 balls to leave the Volcanoes 148 for eight.
Ambris then added 38 crucial runs with tailenders Keon Gaston and Gilon Tyson to complete their impressive fightback.
Forde (2-19), Simmonds (2-32), Warrican (2-45) and Drakes (2-48) all took two wickets apiece.
The Pride endured a rocky start in their reply, with Keon Gaston accounting for captain Kraigg Brathwaite for just one and Kevin Wickham for 12, while Jonathan Drakes fell to Ryan John for six to leave them stumbling on 23 for three.
Opener Shayne Moseley and Kyle Mayers steadied the innings in a 57-run stand to help the Pride recover to 80 for three.
But in the final minutes of play, pacer Tyson removed Moseley for 22 and Leniko Boucher for a duck without another run being added, as the Pride ended the day on 80 for five, still 92 runs behind on first innings.
Gatson has so far taken 2-22, while Tyson finished with 2-23.
Meanwhile, defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles have found themselves on the backfoot against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, while
The Hurricanes dismissed the table leaders for a paltry 193 and finished the day 50 runs adrift on 143 for four, and will be favourites to grab a healthy first innings lead.
At Warner Park: The Leeward Islands Hurricanes used a strong bowling effort to put themselves in a strong position against the Guyana Harpy Eagles.
Captain Rahkeem Cornwall led the way with a three-wicket haul, while Hayden Walsh Jr, Justin Greaves and Oshane Thomas all took two wickets to limit the Harpy Eagles to 193.
Kevlon Anderson batted through the innings, scoring an unbeaten 77 from 96 balls, and the Harpy Eagles needed some useful contributions from their lower order to get up to their eventual total after they found themselves at 69 for five at one point.
Cornwall struck early to get rid of opener Raymond Perez for 10, and medium-pacer Javier Spencer accounted for his partner Matthew Nandu, also for 10, as the Harpy Eagles slipped to 28 for two.
They found themselves in further trouble when pacer Thomas dismissed captain Tevin Imlach for five, Greaves sent Kemol Savory packing for four, and Cornwall returned to claim the scalp of Kevin Sinclair for 13.
However, Anderson joined forces with Keemo Paul, and the pair added 50 runs for the sixth wicket to get their side out of trouble.
And when Thomas claimed Paul’s wicket for 31, Anderson found another ally in Ronaldo Alimohamed, who made 30, with the two adding a further 43 runs.
But once leg spinner Walsh Jr dismissed Alimohamed, the end came swiftly for the Harpy Eagles as Anderson was left stranded.
Cornwall led the way with 3-25, while Walsh Jr (2-26), Greaves (2-30) and Thomas (2-48) lent good support.
The Hurricanes then made a strong start in their response, with openers Mikyle Louis and Kadeem Henry putting on 50 for the first wicket.
Paul made the breakthrough by removing Henry for 22, but his departure brought Keacy Carty to the crease, and he and Louis had the Hurricanes coasting at 106 for one during a 56-run partnership.
The Harpy Eagles then claimed three late wickets to keep themselves in the contest, with Nial Smith dismissing Louis for an aggressive 73 from just 67 balls, Alimohamed snagged Karima Gore for one, and Paul picked up the wicket of Jewel Andrew to reduce them to 131 for four.
The Hurricanes lost no further wickets to end the day on 143 for four, 50 runs behind on first innings.
Paul has so far taken 2-43 for the Harpy Eagles.
At the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground: Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) and the West Indies Academy shared honours at the close of play and are locked in a close battle heading into Thursday’s second day.
CCC had looked set to post a formidable total, but left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop ripped through their middle order to limit them to 238.
At the close of play, the WI Academy reached 37 for one, still 201 runs behind on first innings.
But the day belonged to Bishop, with his heroics leaving the match evenly poised.
CCC were led by Shaqkere Parris, who scored 52, Kyle Corbin, who made a patient 48 and opener Johann Jeremiah, who added 47, which helped to propel them to 168 for three.
But Bishop, along with fellow spinner Zishan Motara, spun a web around the CCC batters.
Motara bowled Parris and then dismissed Daniel Williams for five before Bishop claimed the last four wickets to fall as the CCC lost their last seven wickets for just 70 runs.
Bishop ended with 6-78 while Motara claimed 2-57. (CMC)
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