Gilzene, Blackwood leading Scorpions’ fightback

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Barbados Pride were closing in on victory but Test vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood was helping to lead a Jamaica Scorpions fightback against leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles on the penultimate day of the fourth round of matches in the West Indies Championship.

Off-spinner Chaim Holder snatched four for 63 and fast bowler Akeem Jordan claimed three for 35 to rout hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for 185 in their second innings at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain yesterday and tilt the contest in Pride’s favour.

Set 118 to win, Pride reached 52 for two at the close, needing a further 66 runs to close out the win.

Harpy Eagles found no such comfort at home at the Guyana National Stadium, declaring their second innings on 294 for seven, thanks to Tevin Imlach’s unbeaten 136.

Asked to chase 463, Scorpions closed on 176 for one with debutant opener Tevin Gilzene hitting an unbeaten 81 and Blackwood on 66 not out.

The 26-year-old Imlach carved out his maiden first-class hundred for Harpy Eagles, the right-hander facing 217 deliveries in just short of 5¾ hours and striking 14 fours.

Resuming the day on exactly 50, Imach extended his fifth-wicket stand with Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul to 175 before the partnership ended.

Chanderpaul, on 60 at the start, made 89 off 249 deliveries in five hours with a dozen fours.

Fast bowler Marquino Mindley added another two wickets to end with six for 54.

The game then appeared headed for a swift finish when Scorpions lost Leroy Lugg for 10 with as many runs on the board in the first over, caught at the wicket edging a defensive stroke off pacer Ronsford Beaton.

However, Gilzene counter-attacked with 18 fours off 134 deliveries in a shade over 2¾ hours in a 166-run second-wicket stand with Blackwood who has faced 124 balls and counted seven fours.

At the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, Leeward Islands Hurricanes suffered a second-innings collapse against Windward Islands Volcanoes to be 99 for five at the close – only 128 runs ahead going into the final day.

Kavem Hodge had earlier converted his overnight half-century into 137, helping Volcanoes to push their overnight 206 for two to 353 all out.

Hodge gathered his fourth first-class hundred hitting 15 fours in a knock which required 253 deliveries and nearly 5 1/2L hours.

Starting the day on 85, Hodge pushed his overnight third-wicket stand with Alick Athanaze to 246 before his captain fell for 128 after resuming the morning on 105.

Athanaze struck 17 fours and a six off 173 balls in four hours at the crease overall.

Seamer Jeremiah Louis (4-46) and off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall (4-109) finished with four wickets apiece.