Talismanic allrounder Dwayne Smith stroked a commanding century and Fidel Edwards returned to active duty, but reckless lower order batting led to a collapse that spoiled the celebrations as Caribbean Lumber YMPC fell short of full batting points against CGI Maple.
Smith’s almost flawless display in which he despatched the ball to all parts of the ground seemed to be pacing the visitors to the 275 required for maximum points until a 67-run fourth-wicket stand between Smith and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich was broken at 211.
The last five wickets, inclusive of Smith’s for 103, tumbled in the space of 6.1 overs for the addition of 15 runs as the relegation-threatened Beckles Road club declared at 242-9 off 48.2 overs.
Edwards marked his comeback from injury with a wicket with his third delivery to setback the hosts response but youthful wicketkeeper/batsman Mario Albert (25 not out) and stalwart Pedro Agard (26 not out) posted an unbroken half century to see the total to 60 for two when the umpires called an early halt with twelve overs to be bowled.
The hosts opted to field on winning the toss and saw openers Steve Blackett and Jed Yearwood add 44 before Jamar Griffith, left arm orthodox, accepted a catch off his own bowling to remove Yearwood.
This brought together Blackett and Kemal Smith, century-makers from the previous series, who were mainly untroubled by the bowlers in the batting-friendly conditions until pacer Sadrey Depeiza produced an inswinging yorker that crashed into the latter’s leg stump.
