EDITED-LEAD Bishop hundred puts WI Academy on top

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Joshua Bishop clobbered a breathtaking maiden hundred in his third first-class match as West Indies Academy took control of their opening game against Ireland Academy this Sunday.

Entering at number eight, the 23-year-old belted nine fours and eight sixes in a stunning 69-ball unbeaten 102, which propelled the hosts to 409 all out in their first innings at Coolidge Cricket Ground in response to Ireland Academy’s 213.

Teddy Bishop converted his overnight 48 into 90, and Kevlon Anderson turned his unbeaten 20 at the start into 79. At the same time, 20-year-old Johann Layne followed up his three-wicket haul on Saturday with a lively 50-ball 56 at number 10.

Armed with a lead of 196, WI Academy quickly reduced the Irish to 29 for three, captain Nyeem Young snatching two wickets to finish with two for 15 from six overs of medium pace.

Heading into Monday’s penultimate day, Ireland Academy still requires 167 runs to force the hosts to bat again.

Resuming on 76 for two, WI Academy flourished courtesy of Teddy Bishop and Anderson, extending their third-wicket partnership to an enterprising 152.

Bishop struck 13 fours and six off 159 balls, while Anderson faced 149 deliveries and counted nine fours, keeping the Irish without significant success in the first session.

When Bishop was yorked by hard-working seamer Matthew Foster (3-81) ten balls before lunch, Anderson put on a further 48 for the fourth wicket with Kevin Wickham (33) following the resumption before he, too, followed, cutting left-arm spinner Mike Frost (4-89) to first slip.

His demise saw the hosts lose four wickets for 52 runs to slip to 263 for seven, a lead of only 50 on the first innings, but Joshua Bishop entered to turn the contest firmly in his side’s favor.

The right-handed Bishop blocked his first four deliveries before launching the fifth to the straight boundary, opening the floodgates that saw runs flow freely.

He reached his first fifty off 27 balls with five fours and four sixes and raced to triple figures off 38 balls after being unbeaten on tea at 71 with WI Academy on 316 for eight.

Importantly, Bishop put on 38 for the eighth wicket with Ashmead Nedd (6) and 84 for the ninth wicket with Layne, who lashed a half-dozen fours and three sixes in his cameo.