Sebastien, Johnson prop up Volcanoes
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – A critical half-century stand between captain Liam Sebastien and tail-ender Delorn Johnson rescued Windward Islands Volcanoes from disaster on the opening day of their fourth round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.
With their side precariously poised on 48 for seven at Windsor Park, the pair came together in a 78-run, eighthwicket partnership to ensure the hosts closed the day on 186 for eight.
The left-handed Sebastien was unbeaten on 59 – his 13th first class half-century – while Johnson, also a left-hander, was on 46 not out and in sight of his second first class fifty.
Volcanoes were rocked by fast bowler Gavin Tonge who claimed four for 24 and West Indies seamer Alzarri Joseph who finished with three for 52, in his first game of the sea- son.
It was the 20-year-old Joseph who stunned Volcanoes first up, snatching three of the first four wickets to fall to reduce the hosts to 22 for four in the fifth over. Sunil Ambris resisted briefly in 22 from 56 balls but Tonge ripped through the middle order to leave the innings in tatters.
Sebastien then stepped up, striking eight fours off 100 balls in 137 minutes while Johnson was entertaining, belting two fours and four sixes in a 39-ball cameo.
The start of play was delayed until 1.40 pm because of a wet outfield caused by overnight rain.