Bravo and Greaves put their sides out front – 2nd day, 2nd round

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – A 12th first-class hundred for forgotten West Indies batsman Darren Bravo, and a career-best spell for Barbadian all-rounder

Justin Greaves captured the headlines in the West Indies Championship on Thursday.

Bravo gathered an even 100 and led consistent batting down the order that carried Trinidad & Tobago Red Force to 369 for eight in their first innings against hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes on a rain-marred second day in the second round of matches.

Windward Islands Volcanoes were 48 for two in their second innings for an overall lead of 173, after a destructive spell from Greaves sent leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles crashing to 169 all out, replying to the home team’s first innings total of 294.

Jamaica Scorpions were six without loss in their second innings, trailing by 69, after leftarm spinner Patrick Harty defied half-centuries from Shayne Moseley and Shane Dowrich that Barbados Pride tumbling to 216 all out, replying to his side’s first innings total of 140.

IN COOLIDGE, ANTIGUA: Harty ended with 4-23 from 12.5 overs to lead the Scorpions bowling and keep his side in the contest at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on a day that started late due to adverse weather.

Test pacer Marquino Mindley took 2-25 from 12 overs, and Abhijai Mansingh captured 2-30 from 10 overs with his leg-spin supported Harty’s effort, and enabled the Scorpions to gain full bowling bonus points.

Left-hander Moseley made the top score of 82 and Dowrich, the out-of-favour West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman and Pride captain, was not out on 64 – and were the only two batsmen that made it past the high water mark of 30.

Moseley added 41 to his overnight score and shared 74 with Dowrich before he fell to Mansingh, and there was little substance and stability from the rest of the batting, though Dowrich did his best to shepherd them the rest of the way.

Scorpions openers Leroy Lugg, not out two, and Tevin Gilzene, not out four, survived a brief period before stumps were drawn.

IN NORTH SOUND, ANTIGUA: Bravo struck 10 fours and two sixes from 229 balls in 5-1/4 hours of batting at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, to give a nudge to the West Indies selection panel that he still remains a top-class batsman and may be deserving of consideration.

Long-serving leg-spin all-rounder Imran Khan, batting at eight, again gave proof of his ability with the willow, reaching 67 not out at the close, Yannic Cariah made 52, and Terrance

Hinds, batting at nine, made 51, to enable Red Force to claim four of the five batting bonus points.

Bravo forged a 101-run stand with Cariah on another truncated day to set the tone for the rest of the Red Force batting, and they took their cue from the 35-year-old left-hander to put their side in a favourable place in a match, where only 114 out of a possible 180 overs have been bowled over the first two days.

When pacer Sheeno Berridge bowled Bravo, Red Force were 227 for six, but Khan an- chored successive half-centuries stands with former Hurricanes wicketkeeper-batsman Amir Jangoo and Hinds to reinforce their command.

Pacer Jeremiah Louis has been the most successful Hurricanes bowler taking 3-56 from 23 overs, and Berridge and leftarm pacer Colin Archibald have taken two wickets apiece.

IN ST GEORGE’S, GRENADA: Greaves, 28, gave a strong hint that he may have returned to his best bowling form after an injury prevented him from bowling signficantly in recent times when he snared a miserly 5-24 from 18 overs at the National Cricket Stadium.

Former West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Ryan John followed up a defiant half-century in the Volcanoes’ first innings with 2-52 from 14 overs to support the demolition of the Harpy Eagles batting.

Greaves struck in his first over when he bowled first round century-making opener Matthew Nandu for two and trapped long-standing Harpy Eagles captain Leon Johnson lbw for five in his fourth over.

The visitors were 28 for four, but Anthony Bramble made 21 and Kemol Savory got 20, and stemmed the fall of wickets before Greaves removed them in the span of four balls.

Veerasammy Permaul, batting at eight, came to the crease and led another period of resistance for the Harpy Eagles to hit the top score of 53 and share 61 for the seventh wicket with Kevin Sinclair.

John got Sinclair caught behind for 23 and the last three Harpy Eagles wickets fell for 39 with John, Greaves, and off-spinner Kenneth Dember each taking a wicket, and Volcanoes collected the full three bowling bonus points.

The new-ball pair of Ronsford Beaton and Nial Smith hit back for the Harpy Eagles removing opener Jerlani Robinson for three, and first innings century-maker Alick Athanaze for 11 to set up an intriguing third day.

Earlier, Permaul took the last two Volcanoes first innings wickets in the span of five balls to end with 4-70 from 22.5 overs, after the hosts resumed from their overnight total of 292 for eight and added only two runs.