COMBER, Ireland, CMC – Former West Indies Under-19 pacer Johann Layne impressed with a destructive spell that gave the edge to the Cricket West Indies Academy against hosts Emerging Ireland in their weather-affected, first-class match on Tuesday.
The lanky 20-year-old Barbadian grabbed four for 66 from 15 overs and enabled the Caribbean side to restrict the Irish team to 219 for six in their first innings at the close on a truncated first day of the four-day match at The Green.
CWI Academy faced resistance from the determined opener Christopher De Freitas, whose 88 has been the top score so far. Gavin Hoey supported with 31. Morgan Topping, one of their batting nemeses from the preceding One-day matches, was not out on 24, and Cade Carmichael made 20.
Layne made early inroads into the Emerging Ireland batting when play started three hours later than scheduled because of wet conditions caused by adverse weather, and West Indies, with a strategic decision, won the toss and decided to field.
He removed opener James McCollum for seven and Emerging Ireland captain Stephen Doheny for 10, while CWI Academy captain Nyeem Young got Gavin Roulston caught behind for six before the home team reached 101 for three at tea.
The visitors met stiff resistance from De Freitas, not out on 63 at tea, and the left-hander continued to plunder runs after the break in a 65-run, fourth-wicket stand with Carmichael.
Layne removed them in successive overs before Topping entered to anchor a couple of tidy partnerships with Hoey – who left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop bowled – and Thomas Mayes, not out on 18, before stumps were drawn.
The series is part of a reciprocal agreement between Cricket Ireland and CWI, which was signed after the Emerging Ireland squad visited the Caribbean in November and December last year.
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