ICBL Empire opening pair Jamal Smith and Jason Haynes took full advantage of ideal batting conditions to register respective centuries as the hosts grabbed maximum battings points from BNB St Catherine.
Captain Smith was out for 106 after posting his second successive ton but Haynes, a former Empire skipper, made an unbeaten 111 as the ‘Blues’ rallied to 276 for one from 75 overs.
Smith, fresh from his second career hundred in the previous series, won the toss and without hesitation elected to bat, condemning the visitors to an entire day “chasing leather” in blazing sunshine.
Left-hander Haynes was the more authoritative at the start but once the skipper and wicketkeeper found his range he proceeded to leave his senior partner in his wake, cruising to 50 in just over two hours from 85 balls.
By the tea interval the pair had added 127 from 38 overs with Haynes on 57 and Smith 69 and it was business as usual after the break as the hapless bowlers wilted under the onslaught.
Smith was first to the coveted century, bringing up the landmark off 163 balls with 16 threes and two fours.
He attained 500 runs for the season on reaching 103 and celebrated with a lofted drive over bowler Derick Bishop’s head that turned out to be his final scoring shot out of a partnership of 200.
Ryan Hinds joined Haynes and immediately took on the role of aggressor while Haynes maintained the measured approach that saw him to a century after 256 minutes at the crease, striking 11 threes and two fours in the process.
So dominant was the bat over ball that not a single chance was offered while a mere three maiden overs were recorded.
The third wicket partnership pushed the total to 275-1 in the 74th over as Hinds notched up a run-a-ball 56 not out and Haynes closed on 111.
