Windies Academy pace trio undermine Irish

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

SEAMERS ISAI Thorne, Johann Layne and Nyeem Young hurt Ireland Academy to put West Indies Academy in control of the opening first-class game of the series at Coolidge Cricket Ground yesterday.

Choosing to bat first on the opening day, the visitors were cruising at 182 for three at one stage before collapsing to 213 all out, Murray Commins top-scoring with 93 and Cade Carmichael chipping in with 59.

The 19-year-old Thorne claimed four for 33 in destroying the lower order while the 20-year-old Layne (3-43) and captain Young (3-56) made critical strikes to dismantle the Irish innings.

In reply, West Indies Academy found themselves in strife at 11 for two when new-ball seamer Matthew Foster knocked over openers Ackeem Auguste (5) and Matthew Nandu (1) cheaply in successive overs.

However, the in-form Teddy Bishop stroked a polished unbeaten 48 while Kevlon Anderson supported with 20 not out, as West Indies Academy finished on 76 for two – 137 runs behind heading into Sunday’s day two.

Layne made the early strikes to give the hosts momentum when he got Stephen Doheny (3) to chop on a wide delivery in the morning’s third over and then got James McCollum to drive a fullish, wide delivery to Joshua Bishop at cover point.

Commins and Carmichael then joined forces in a superb stand of 128 for the third wicket, which carried the Irish to lunch on 110 without further loss.

The 26-year-old Commins, already with two Tests under his belt, struck 17 fours off 123 deliveries while the 21-year-old Carmichael counted nine fours in a 97-ball knock.

Unbeaten on 41 at lunch with Commins on 57, Carmichael was the first to fall following the resumption, depositing a full toss from Layne to Nandu at deep square.

Left-hander Commins added a further 39 for the fourth wicket with Morgan Topping (17) before Young claimed both in a single over, Topping feathering a catch to the keeper and Commins slicing a drive at a slower ball and taken at cover point by Bishop.

Their dismissals led to the unravelling of the Ireland Academy innings as the last seven wickets tumbled for just 31 runs.

Foster provided the ideal riposte, however, bowling the left-handed Auguste through the gate and then getting Nandu – also left-handed – to edge a defensive prod behind, as West Indies Academy started shakily.

Bishop arrived to stroke seven fours and a six off 66 deliveries in a 65-run, unbroken third-wicket partnership with Anderson, to keep Ireland Academy without further success.