UWI grab first innings points

SIMON NAITRAM stroked an enterprising half-century and featured in a vital seventh-wicket stand with Ezra Greene to lead Sagicor UWI to first innings points over ICBL Empire.Naitram struck a half-dozen boundaries in an even 50 from 47 balls in just over an hour, and Greene was not out on 44 as UWI, replying to Empire’s 125, reached 150 for seven when bad light stopped play.Naitram and Greene added 86 after Kevin Stoute captured three wickets for 32 runs, and Ian Perryman took two for 17 as UWI crashed to 46 for six.UWI were off to a brisk start from openers Omar Phillips and Miles Bascombe. But Stoute trapped Bascombe lbw for 14 to trigger the collapse that saw the home team lose six wickets for 16 runs in the space of 36 balls.UWI wicketkeeper/batsman Naitram was the main aggressor in the key stand, with Greene prepared to play slightly more orthodox.Naitram reached his milestone with a leg-side deuce off Shawn Graham, but soon fell when he was bowled behind his back sweeping at a delivery from left-arm slow bowler Robin Parris.Earlier, Stoute held the Empire top order batting together with 45, and Ian Perryman Jr rallied the bottom half with 26. No other Empire batsman passed 20, and they were all out about ten minutes before the tea break.Off-spinner Ryan Austin was the most successful UWI bowler with four for 48 from ten overs, Raymond Reifer supported with three for 15 from seven overs, and Kavesh Kantasingh snared three for 33 from 11 overs.