The VelloCricket Journal

Chadwick Walton- Photo courtesy twitter

The West Indian Championship Fifth round had contrasting winners from the previous round. Leeward Islands Hurricanes topped Guyana Jaguars to close the gap on the leaders. Barbados Pride made light work of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. While Jamaica Scorpions recorded their first victory this season against Windwards Volcanoes.

Batting first Guyana Jaguars posted a modest 196. Christopher Barnwell 58 and Leon Johnson 44 were the main contributors with the bat. Rakheem Cornwall was on the ball as usual, snaring 4/70 alongside Damion Jacobs 3/15 for Leewards. Hurricanes surrendered first innings lead as they fell short at 175. Jacobs 34 not out and Terrence Warde 30 were two among four cameos by the Leewards batsmen. Clinton Pestano 4/50 and Romario Shepherd 3/29 were the chief wicket takers for the Jaguars.

In the second innings Guyana posted a competitive score of 269 to set the Hurricanes 290 for victory. Tagnarine Chanderpaul 40, Shepherd 39 and Pestano 46 not out carried their bats for the Jaguars. Cornwall 6/70 and Jacobs 2/90 led the Leewards bowling attack again for the second time in the match. Montcin Hodge 127 and Keacy Carty 67 provided the platform for the Hurricanes to blow away the perennial giants by two wickets in the end. Veerasammy Permaul tried his best with 4/43, while Keemo Paul and Shepherd supported with two wickets each.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force returned home following their win over Jamaica Scorpions. But is was the Barbados Pride who enjoyed the better of the exchanges at the Brian Lara Stadium. Batting first Red Force left a lot to be desired as seamer Kevin Stoute bagged 6/35 to restrict Trinidad and Tobago to 170. Only Yannick Cariah with 36 offered any resistance. Pride were able to post a 45 run lead, scoring 215. Shamar Springer and Nicholas Kirton both scored 47 to ensure that Barbados gained first innings rights. Seamers Anderson Phillips 3/73 and Odean Smith 3/32 were the best with the ball for the Red Force.

Trinidad and Tobago’s batting woes continued at their home ground as they were routed for a paltry 103. Imran Khan 25 and Odean Smith 28 did their best to fend off the Barbadian assault. Springer 4/24 and Marquino Mindley 4/47 were the destroyers for the Pride. Barbados lost three wickets getting to the target of 59.

Windwards Volcanoes batted first against cellar place Jamaica Scorpions. The evergreen Devon Smith record his second hundred this season, 124, his 36th First Class ton. Kaveem Hodge scored 56 and Denis Smith 49. For the Scorpions Dennis Bulli bagged 5/94 and Jerome Taylor and Derval Green nabbed two wickets each. Jamaica fell 13 runs short of the total set by the Volcanoes in getting to 272. Chadwick Walton 125, scored his second century this season with Brandon King in tow with 52. Bowling for Windwards, Larry Edwards had 4/79 while Kaveem Hodge and Ray Jordan picked up two wickets each.

Batting a second time the Volcanoes could only manage 198 to set the Scorpions 211. Devon Smith followed up his first innings exploits with 47 as did Kaveem Hodge with 52. Bulli was again the leading wicket taker with 5/54. Walton too, got into the act with 2/10. Walton completed the victory for Jamaica with 79, alongside Brandon King 58. Tyrone Theophile 4/44 lead the Volcanoes’ effort, but it was not enough as the Scorpions won by six wickets.

Anthony Bramble, photo courtesy Flickr

January, 15th 2019

The fourth round of the West Indian Championship featured just two matches as Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Barbados Pride enjoyed a bye round. Guyana Jaguars continued on the path of a runaway freight train with a compelling eight wicket win over Windwards Volcanoes. Jaguars batting first posted 494 for 9 declared, as Anthony Bramble scored his second consecutive century, 168. Tagnarine Chanderpaul carried his bat for 119 not out and Romario Shepherd 72. Josh Thomas was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 94 and Ray Jordan had 2 for 56. Volcanoes replied with 209 all out, Alick Athanaze 66 and Denis Smith 37. Keemo Paul spearhead the Jaguars’ assault with 6 for 57 alongside Veerasammy Permaul 2 for 38 and Shepherd 2 for 47.

Asked to follow on Volcanoes posted a gallant 361 with Kirk Edwards 138 reminding Caribbean fans of his caliber. Devon Smith 65, and Denis Smith 67 supported the resistance as the Jaguars were set 117 for victory. Paul roared again with 4 for 72, Gudesh Motie had two wickets, with Shepherd, Permaul and Sherfane Rutherford claiming a wicket each. Shirmon Hetmyer scored 61 off 28 balls as Guyana galloped to the target in only 18 overs and three balls.

In the cellar clash at Sabina Park, Kingston Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force notched their first win this season to stem a hemorrhage of six consecutive defeats. Jamaica Scorpions were on the losing end for the third round in a row, to now sit as the only win-less team after four rounds. Red Force batting first, posted a modest 203 with only a rearguard 78 run eight wicket partnership between Yanick Cariah 61 and Khary Pierre 35 bailing out the Trinbagonians. Nikita Miller was the chief destroyer with 5 for 62 after Rovmon Powell 3 for 40 has dented the Red Force earlier. Oshane Thomas snared 2 for 30. Scorpions had no sting in the tail like Trinidad and Tobago did, as they were demolished for 112. Chadwick Walton scored 35 as he resisted, Anderson Phillips 3 for 26, Khary Pierre 2 for 7, Odean Smith 2 for 14 and Daniel St Clair 2 for 40.

With a first innings lead of 91 Red Force scored 233 to post a moderate target of 325. For Trinidad and Tobago a number of batsmen played cameo innings with Khary Pierre 46 and Darren Bravo 38 the best of the lot. Nikita Miller nabbed 7 for 87 to complete a 12 wicket haul. In reply the Scorpions were out of venom as they succumbed for 167. Only debutant Oraine Williams (56) and Assad Fudadin 35 not out, showed any semblance of a fight. Imran Khan proved the perfect antidote to quell the Scorpions sting as he bagged 5 for 59 with Khary Pierre (3/29) again playing a supporting role to complete a 157 run win for Trinidad and Tobago.

January 8th, 2019,

Montcin Hodge – Photo courtesy ESPNcricinfo

The West Indian Championship (WIC) resumed last weekend following the holiday break. Guyana Jaguars continued their dominance with a comfortable six wicket win over a star studded Barbados Pride. Jaguars scored a mammoth 548 with Chanderpaul Hemraj (144) and Anthony Bramble (130*) leading the charge. Raymon Reifer scored 75 and Sherfane Rutherford 54 in partnerships with Bramble. For the Pride, Ashley Nurse was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 122. Barbados in reply were asked to follow on after scoring 360, Shane Dowrich top-scored with 81, and Jonathan Carter 68. Veerasammy Permaul picked up 4 for 124 and Reifer 2 for 38 . Following on Pride posted 232 to  set the Jaguars 45 to win with Roston Chase hitting 68 and Dowrich 61. Permaul bagged another 4fer, 4 for 73 and was well supported again by Reifer with 3 for 53. Guyana were sprung a rearguard surprise as Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins pick up to two wickets each to derail a cruise to the finish, yet is was not enough to avoid Guyana notching their third win in as many matches this term

Like the Jaguars, Leeward Islands Hurricanes made light work of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. After winning the toss Hurricanes elected to bat first, posting a convincing total of 425. Montcin Hodge led the way with 158, Rakheem Cornwall 65, and Jeremiah Louis support with 51 not out. Pacers Shannon Gabriel and Daniel St Clair nabbed three wickets each for the Red Force. In reply Trinidad and Tobago could only muster 252, with Jeremy Solozano continuing his impressive form with 80, with Bryan Charles scoring 39 down the order. Cornwall snared 4 for 73 and Alzarri Joseph 3 for 80. In the second innings the Hurricanes declared on  168/6 with M. Hodge adding an unbeaten 77 to his first innings ton. Gabriel was again this pick of the bowlers from the Red Force with 3 for 35 while Bryan Charles picked up two wickets. Defending 342 the Leewards, swirled the Trinbagoian side into pandemonium as they were routed for 96. Alzarri Joseph 4 for 22 and Cornwall 4 for 29 leaving the Red Force with much to ponder. Hurricanes winning by 246 runs on the road to jump to second in the standings behind the Jaguars.

Windwards Volcanoes recorded their second consecutive come from behind win as they overturned Jamaica Scorpions’ first innings lead. Scorpions batting first posted 210 with Assad Fudadin 81 and Chadwick Walton 52. Kaveem Hodge picked up 4 for 40 and Jost Thomas 2 for 42. Volcanoes we stung for a paltry 113 as Rovman Powell displayed his venom with the ball with 5 for 23. Jamaica returned 189 to set the Windwards 287 to win. Fudadin added 48 to go along with his first innings top-score, alongside cameos from Jermaine Blackwood 35 and Aldaine Thomas 31. Jost Thomas 4 for 44 and Kaveem Hodge 2 for 34 led the bowling again for the Volcanoes. Facing an imposing total batting last in a day-night affair, Winwards made their way home quite handsomely with five wickets in hand. Kirk Edwards 76, Kaveem Hodge 59 not out and Roland Cato 54 guided the Volcanoes home.