ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A sensational spell from little-known Trinidadian off-spinner Avinash Mahibirsingh for Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles grabbed the headlines in the West Indies Championship on Thursday.
But he still had to share a bit of the spotlight with Leeward Islands Hurricanes left-arm spinner Daniel Doram and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force off-spinner Bryan Charles, whose destructive spells put their sides in control on the second day of the seventh and final round of matches.
One day after celebrating his 23rd birthday, Mahibirsingh celebrated with eight for 51 from 17.4 overs, and Harpy Eagles were bowled out for 223 to gain a 23-run, first-innings lead against the Marooners at Frank Worrell Field on the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.
Harpy Eagles, one of four sides with a realistic chance of taking the Headley-Weekes Trophy, a symbol of West Indies four-day first-class supremacy, started the day on 114 for one, replying to the Marooners’ first innings total of 200. They had no answer for Mahibirsingh.
Outside of a 52-run fourth wicket stand between their captain Tevin Imlach and West Indies off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, the visitors’ batting was a little stable after Mahibirsingh bowled Raymond Perez in the first over of the day for 62—the Harpy Eagles opener added only one to his overnight score.
Imlach made 55, Sinclair got 37, and Kevlon Anderson failed to add to his overnight 27 before falling in third over the day to Mahibirsingh.
Jamaican opener Odaine McCatty then hit 56 and discarded West Indies batsman Shamarh Brooks supported with 54 not out to anchor Marooners to 165 for seven in their second innings at the close for a lead of 142.
Doram bagged six for 34 from 16 overs, and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr snared three for 21 from seven overs, and Hurricanes seized control of the all-Islands derby when they bowled out Windward Islands Volcanoes for 179 to gain a 121-run innings lead at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
Both teams are among the challengers for the title. Still, Doram and Walsh spurred Hurricanes into a superior position after the Volcanoes resumed from their overnight total of six for one, and their batting imploded.
Johann Jeremiah led the way for the Volcanoes with 41, Barbadian all-rounder Shamar Springer scored 33, West Indies batsman Kavem Hodge got 29, and Stephan Pascal added 25.
The prolific Mikyle Louis, who scored a century in the Hurricanes’ first innings, then made 33, and fellow opener Kieran Powell scored 31 in an opening stand of 66, enabling their side to reach 111 for two at the close.
Charles has taken six for 75 from 23.1 overs, and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre grabbed two for 46. At Sabina Park, the hosts Jamaica Scorpions were on the ropes on 159 for nine, replying to the Red Force’s first innings total of 432.
West Indies left-handed batsman Kirk McKenzie showed signs of form with the Scorpions’ top score of 57, and Jeavor Royal was not out on 33—but no other batter reached 20.
Earlier, Terrance Hinds, batting at eight, proved his batting credentials with 79 after Red Force continued from their overnight total of 308 for seven.
Hinds smashed seven fours and five sixes from 118 balls in 2-1/4 hours at the crease, and he completed a 91-run, eighth-wicket stand with Pierre that frustrated the Scorpions.
Pierre made 43; Royal was the most successful Scorpions bowler with three for 113 from 37 overs, and pacer Ojay Shields and off-spinner Peat Salmon took two wickets.
West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite was not out 49 and trying to lead a fight-back for Barbados Pride, the other title-contender after they conceded 90-run innings lead against the Cricket West Indies Academy at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Pride were 109 for three in their second innings at the close, after their bowlers, led by pacer Akeem Jordan, kept them in the contest.
Jordan ended with four for 76 from 16 overs, while fellow pacers Raymon Reifer, Jair McAllister, and Shaquille Cumberbatch took two apiece, and the Academy were dismissed for 243 in their first innings.
Resuming on 111 for our, the Academy got a top score of 76 from Ackeem Auguste, Carlon Tuckett-Bowen, son of former Leewards and West Indies all-rounder turned umpire Carl Tuckett, supported with 49, West Indies Under-19 pacers Johan Layne and McKenny Clarke, batting at nine and 10, made 38 and 30 respectively.
and then 