Powell shines with hundred for Hurricanes
... Mindley gives Scorpions dominant start
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Out-of-favour Test opener Kieran Powell wasted little time in grabbing the attention of selectors as he punched an eighth first-class hundred on the opening day of the third round of the regional four-day championship here Wednesday.
The 32-year-old struck 139 as Leeward Islands Hurricanes powered their way to 308 for seven against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Stadium.
Trinidadian left-hander Amir Jagoo chipped in with 58, while West Indies’ newest recruit Keacy Carty got 31 and Terrance Warde 26.
At Queen’s Park Oval, left-handed opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul gathered a typically patient unbeaten half-century as Guyana Harpy Eagles battled all day to reach 210 for four against leaders Barbados Pride.
Chanderpaul, the son of Test legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, hit 64 while Tevin Imlach stroked 53 and captain Leon Johnson 37.
In the first-ever first-class contest at Diego Martin Complex, Jamaica Scorpions were poised to take first innings lead over Windward Islands Volcanoes after finishing the day 118 for four, 19 runs behind Volcanoes’ 137.
However, Powell ensured the attention was firmly fixed on Tarouba as he dominated Red Force’s attack which included Test pacers Shannon
Gabriel and Jayden Seales, the latter of whom finished with two for 25 from a disciplined 13-over spell.
All told, Powell faced 211 deliveries and struck 17 fours and two sixes.
Montcin Hodge fell cheaply without scoring with two runs on the board after Hurricanes chose to bat first but Powell then stitched up the innings in three half-century stands.
First, he put on 64 for the second wicket with Carty, then added exactly 100 for the fourth with Jangoo before posting a further 74 for the fifth wicket with Warde. Powell was unbeaten on 51 at lunch with his side on 98 for two, reached 83 at tea with Hurricanes moving to 185 for three before reaching triple figures in the sixth over of the final session with a backfoot punch to the cover boundary off off-spinner Jason Mohammed. He eventually fell when he played back to one from leg-spinner Yannic Cariah and was adjudged lbw, becoming one of three wickets to go down for 20 runs as Red Force regained control towards the end. Jangoo, meanwhile, struck eight fours off 103 balls.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Marquino Mindley snatched five for 20 to decimate Volcanoes after they were asked to bat first, new-ball pacer Nicholson Gordon supporting with four for 43.
Keron Cottoy top-scored with 50 off 108 balls with eight fours while Captain Kavem Hodge got 23 but no other batsman passed 20 as Volcanoes lost wickets steadily.
In reply, Test opener John Campbell struck a fluent 48 from 50 balls with seven fours and a six, in a 71-run opening stand with Leroy Lugg who made 36 while adding a further 35 for the second wicket with Test Vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood (26)
However, Blackwood was one of three wickets to tumble for just 12 runs towards the end as left-arm pacer Preston Mcsween (2-38) struck twice in successive overs, also claiming the wicket of Test star Nkrumah Bonner for just two.
In the capital, Chanderpaul proved to be Harpy Eagles’ anchor in an innings consuming 259 deliveries and decorated by half-dozen fours, en route to his 11th first-class fifty.
Crucially, he forged stands of 94 for the second wicket with Imlach and 58 for the third with Johnson, as Guyana recovered from the early loss of Chandrapaul Hemraj in the fifth over — caught at the wicket off left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer.
Imlach counted seven fours off 147 deliveries before he was second out, caught at second slip by Shamarh Brooks defending off the back foot to pacer Ackeem Jordan (2-50).