ICBL Empite have a history of outstanding fast bowlers, but it was a trio of spinners that set up a position of comfort over Seven Seas Police on the opening day of the LIME Elite Division yesterday.
Police, making a return to the top division after winning the Upper Intermediate last season, wasted an encouraging start and could only manage 113, suffering a steady decline against the varied spin of Jomel Warrican, Nicolai Charles and Roston Chase.
Empire lost their first two batsmen for ducks on a pitch that contained bounce after the use of the heavy roller in between innings, but they survived pacer Callitos Lopez’s lively new ball burst to close on 78 for five.
On a day in which the lawmen were watched by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, the hosts seemed intent on making an making an impression when openers, captain Roger Williams and Richard Greaves were posting 34 for the first wicket.
Once medium-pacer Kevin Stoute, brought on in the fifth over after pacer Jared Bernadin left the field with a side strain, broke through after 45 minutes, Police gradually deteriorated against the combination of left-arm spinner Warrican, leg-spinner Charles and off-spinner Chase.
Warrican, extracting turn and bounce, claimed four for 20 from eight overs.
Charles, in his first match for the club, claimed two wickets at the opposite end, while debutant Chase polished off the innings with the last three wickets in two overs.
In recent years, Empire have had attacks that lacked the cutting edge but the good work of their bowlers yesterday was not fully capitalized on by their batsmen.
Lopez utilized the moisture in the surface with good effect to roll over Jason Haynes, Roston Chase and Kevin Stoute and when off-spinner Jason Smith lured captain Jamal Smith out of the crease to earn a stumping, Police were back in contention at 42 for four.
