Super Centre Spartan took the upper hand over Seven Seas Police with a ten-run first innings lead with five wickets still in hand at the close of the first day.
Spartan, who won the toss and invited their guests to take first knock in batsman-friendly conditions, vindicated their decision by shooting out the opponents in 34.4 overs for a modest 123.
They then adopted a patient approach to reach 134 for five with opening bat Rashidi Boucher and skipper Shamarh Brooks providing a solid platform in an 82-run second wicket partnership before the lawmen fought back by taking four late wickets.
Police’s innings promised a lot more than it delivered.?After captain Roger Williams and Richard Greaves comfortably put on 40 for the opening stand, there was a steady flow of wickets that culminated in the last six wickets tumbling for 30 runs in ten overs.
Williams fought gallantly but none of his partners offered much support in the face of incisive spin bowling by Suleiman Benn, left-arm orthodox, and Aamir Thomas, right-arm wrist spin.
He was eventually the eighth batsman dismissed for a fighting 92-ball 47 that spanned 112 minutes and included six fours and a six.
Benn (3-33) made the early inroads, removing the first three wickets, while Thomas ripped the heart out of the middle order to return the best figures (4-40).
The spin duo were ably backed up by pacer Jeremy Marshall, who returned to grab two wickets in a second spell when he relieved Benn.
Boucher and Brooks joined forces after off-spinner Derick Boyce won a leg before verdict against Akeem Springer with his first delivery and it was almost against the run of play when they were dismissed within nine runs of each other for 48 and 47, respectively..
The former was uncharacteristically sedate, allowing the captain to do most of the scoring before dragging a delivery from Dwayne Yearwood onto his wicket, while the latter pulled a long hop from the same bowler straight into the lap of the deep midwicket fielder.
Off-spinners Yearwood (2-18) and Jason Smith (2-36) led the visitors’ fightback but could not prevent the hosts from surpassing the meagre target to take first innings points.
