Bravo notches second hundred in stalemate

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

VETERAN LEFT-HANDER Darren Bravo tugged at the heartstrings of West Indies selectors with his second hundred of the game as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force drew their second-round Regional first-class contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes yesterday.

The 34-year-old left-hander, whose Test career appeared all but over having not featured in just over two years, struck exactly 100 not out to lift Red Force to 183 for five declared in their second innings on the final day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Having been dismissed for 302 in their first innings, the declaration left Hurricanes with an improbable 300 for victory and they finished on 72 for one to avoid any unnecessary late drama.

Earlier, Rahkeem Cornwall completed his 17th first-class 50 when he made 67, carrying the Hurricanes innings after they resumed on 243 for seven, still 175 runs in arrears.

Unbeaten on 33 at the start, Cornwall struck seven fours and a couple sixes off 95 balls and found an ally in Hayden Walsh Jr (33) to stretch the eighth-wicket stand to 83.

Off-spinner Bryan Charles grabbed two of the three wickets to fall to end with four for 84 while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre took the other wicket to end with three for 63.

LESS THAN IDEAL START

Ahead by 116, Red Force had a less than ideal start when pacer Sheno Berridge bowled Keagan Simmons for one in the second over with as many runs on the board before captain Bravo took charge.

He stroked 10 fours in an innings requiring 153 balls and just short of three hours at the crease, posting 85 for the second wicket with Jeremy Solozano (26), 28 for the third wicket with Jason Mohammed (12) and 28 for the fifth with Terrance Hinds (16).

Bravo also scored exactly 100 in the first innings, now raising his first-class tally to 14.

With survival their only focus, Hurricanes comfortably denied Red Force thanks to opener Montcin Hodge who struck an unbeaten 33 in a 52-run, opening stand with Test batsman Kieran Powell (21).

Hodge batted nearly one and a half hours and counted half-dozen fours, finding support from Keacy Carty (11 not out) to further frustrate Red Force once Powell departed.

Over at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium, the Windward Islands Volcanoes and the Guyana Harpy Eagles also played out a draw.

The game came down to the wire with the Harpy Eagles just 43 runs away from a victory but a wicket away from a loss.

Having scored 294 in the first innings on the back of Alick Athanaze’s magnificent 142, the Volcanoes bowled out the Eagles for 169 with Justin Greaves bagging 5-24.

The Volcanoes would return to be dismissed for 168 on the back of Shamar Joseph’s 5-41.

Chasing 293 for victory, Kevin Sinclair scored an unbeaten 77, Matthew Nandu scored 60, and Leon Johnson, 40, against Preston McSween, 3-58.

However, with wickets falling, the game became more about surviving, with the Harpy Eagles just managing to hold on.

On Friday, The Barbados Pride swatted away the Jamaica Scorpions inside three days. The Pride won the encounter by six wickets.