Smith and Simmons shine at Beckles Road

OUT OF FAVOUR West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith missed a century by four runs, while Shadd Simmons took five for 70 for Banks, who shared the honours with Caribbean Lumber YMPC who were dismissed for 231 from 49.4 overs, 20 minutes after the scheduled close.On a day when the start of play was delayed by 90 minutes due to rain, the fortunes fluctuated after YMPC were invited to bat.Smith’s chanceless knock, his third half-century of the season, carried his aggregate to 345 runs. On the other hand, it was Simmons’ first five-wicket haul this season. Smith went to tea scoreless with YMPC on 54 for three.  The right-hander cracked 11 threes and five fours, in 143 minutes off 86 balls. He and Matthew King, with a run-a-ball 29, including four threes and five fours, added 40 for the fourth-wicket before King was caught at deep mid-wicket off Simmons. This was off the final ball of an over off which King 14 plundered runs. Smith found a useful partner in Calvin Watson and they put on 63 for the seventh-wicket. Eventually, Smith sliced a delivery from Tariq Hoyte to Sherwin Campbell at backward point. Hoyte claimed three for 71, as Banks gained four bowling points and YMPC three batting points.