Starring with bat and ball is becoming a habit for Jonathan Carter.
Following last season’s 633 runs and 31 wickets and a first series 71 and 4-13 versus CGI Maple, Carter showcased his all-round qualities again yesterday, guiding Sagicor UWI to within eight runs of first innings lead over Seven Seas Police on the first day of their second series LIME Elite Division match.
First, Carter took four wickets for 33 with his swing bowling as he and seasoned off-spinner Ryan Austin (4-39) bowled out Police for a modest 135.
Then, with UWI losing three early wickets for 36 runs to the pacy Callitos Lopez (2-13) and Rico Depeiza, Carter hit an attacking 74, embellished with seven fours and three sixes off 67 balls in 79 minutes, which carried UWI to 127 for five at stumps.
The left-handed Carter enjoyed himself with some cuts, hooks and drives off Depeiza, while hoisting wristy off-spinner Jason Smith for three sixes.
But Smith was undeterred and induced Carter to sky a catch to short midwicket, a few balls after Richard Greaves had spilled a sitter at long off.
After Floyd Reifer was bounced out for a ”duck” by the persevering Depeiza, the Police players were dumbfounded when rookie umpire Jonathan Blades turned down what looked like an obvious lbw verdict against new man Kevin McClean.
Earlier, Police, sent in, made encouraging progress to reach 50 for just the loss of captain Roger Williams, who made only three.?Austin started the slide by removing Greaves for 22 and later sending back Dwayne Yearwood, who hit six fours in a top score of 37 in 86 minutes.
Police’s cause wasn’t helped as the experienced Brian Corbin was ajudged LBW?without scoring to Carlos Brathwaite and Carter made a telling triple strike, removing Dario Sargeant, Jamar Yearwood and Lopez cheaply to leave Police tottering on 92 for seven.
Allrounder Larry Babb hit Austin for three sixes in a breezy 27 on either side of tea, taken at 118 for eight before the wily spinner had the last laugh, inducing a slip catch, before Carter shattered Smith’s stumps.
