Hope, Carter tons set up huge target for Barbados Pride

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Test batsman Shai Hope and left-hander Jonathan Carter both gathered attractive unbeaten hundreds to power Barbados Pride into a match-winning position against leaders Guyana Jaguars yesterday.

The right-handed Hope struck 114 not out, while Carter finished on exactly 100 not out as Pride stormed to 320 for four declared in their second innings on the penultimate day of the seventh-round encounter at Kensington Oval.

Set an improbable 405 for victory, Jaguars were making a fist of it heading into today's final day, however, finishing on 52 without loss - still 353 runs adrift of what would be a remarkable run chase.

Test opener Rajindra Chandrika was unbeaten on 28 and was partnered by Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 23.

The day belonged to Pride, in particular, Hope and Carter, who dominated the Jaguars' much-vaunted spin attack, to put the hosts in control of the contest.

Hope faced 225 balls in a shade over 5 1/2 hours at the crease and counted six fours, while Carter was the aggressor, hammering eight fours and three sixes in an innings requiring only 104 deliveries.

For Hope, it was his fourth first-class hundred and second triple figure score in as many games, following his 162 against Windward Islands Volcanoes in the last round.

Carter, meanwhile, collected his third first class hundred and his first of the season.

The pair put on 162 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand, which steadied the innings after Pride had lost two quick wickets for 16 runs to slip to 158 for four in the first hour after lunch.

Brooks perished in the fifth over after lunch, caught at slip by Johnson, off pacer Keon Joseph and Roston Chase lasted just 11 balls before he edged a drive to Assad Fudadin at second slip, also off Joseph.

The 24-year-old Keon Joseph was impressive in claiming two for 35, while Veerasammy Permaul finished with two for 108.

Hurricanes poised

At Addelita Cancryn Junior High School: Windward Islands Volcanoes, replying to Leeward Islands Hurricanes' 327 all out, reached 323 for six in their first innings at the close on the penultimate day of their seventh-round match in the WICB Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.

Scores: HURRICANES 327 (Rahkeem Cornwall 97, Orlando Peters 47, Jahmar Hamilton 46, Nkrumah Bonner 41, Montcin Hodge 31, Kyle Mayers 5-83, Kevin McClean 3-56); VOLCANOES 323 for six (Devon Smith 89, Kavem Hodge 71 not out, Sunil Ambris 56, Jerlani Robinson 47, Kyle Mayers 30 not out, Jacques Taylor 2-52).