CRICKET-LEAD Bishop Auguste put Emerging Ireland on the ropes

COOLIDGE, Antigua, CMC – Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop and Ackeem Auguste starred as West Indies Academy dominated day two of their first-class match against Emerging Island on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Bishop scythed through the tourists’ first innings, ending with four for 18. At the same time, impressive fast bowler Isai Thorne supported with three for 16, as Emerging Island collapsed spectacularly for 72 in reply to WI Academy’s 326.

Auguste then stroked 75 off 101 deliveries to help power the hosts to 172 for four in their second innings at the close – an overall lead of 426 runs at Coolidge Cricket Ground heading into Monday’s day three.

Resuming the morning on 300 for eight in their first innings, WI Academy was dismissed for 326, with Kevlon Anderson extending his overnight 101 to an unbeaten 125 off 208 balls with 18 fours and seamer Tom Mayes finishing with five for 64.

Emerging Ireland then suffered a swift collapse. Stephen Doheny cut a rank wide long hop from fast bowler McKenny Clarke to point to perish for eight in the innings’ fifth over before seamer and captain Nyeem Young (2-7) removed James McCollum (4) and Murray Commins (0) in the same over.

Tottering on 28 for three, there was no recovery despite Cade Carmichael’s top score of 39 off 56 balls with half-dozen fours as Bishop and Thorne ripped apart the middle and lower order.

Armed with a lead of 254, Auguste took the attack to Emerging Island before the innings faltered late in the day.

The 20-year-old left-hander struck nine fours and a six, putting on 34 for the first wicket with Matthew Nandu (18) and a further 90 for the second wicket with Teddy Bishop, whose 46 came from 73 deliveries and included five fours.

Auguste and Bishop fell in successive overs as the hosts lost three wickets for 11 runs, Mayes finishing with two for 21.

The left-handed Bishop was first to fall, bowled through the gate by off-spinner Mike Frost, while Auguste followed five balls later in the next over, chasing an extensive delivery from Mayes and edging behind.