JAVON SEARLES celebrated his inclusion in Barbados’ team for next month’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional One-Day Competition in Jamaica in grand style with a splendid career-best 132 yesterday.
Searles’ knock propelled ICBL Empire to a mammoth 372 all out against Caribbean Lumber YMPC. At stumps, the hosts were 32 for one.
Searles’ second hundred at this level followed an unbeaten 128 against Carlton last year. The tall, lanky former Coleridge and Parry student who hails from Holder’s Hill in St James, struck 15 threes and 11 fours in 261 minutes from 204 balls. He came to the crease after the early loss of Jason Hinds in the day’s sixth over.
The fast-bowling all-rounder shared in three vital half-century partnerships – 75 for the seventh wicket with Alcindo Holder, 50 with Ian Perryman for the eight wicket, and 93 with Robin Parris for the ninth wicket – as Empire pulverised YMPC’s attack.
Blossomed
Earlier, Empire resumed from an overweek 129 for five, with Holder on five and Hinds on six. Holder, who eventually fell for 58, was very slow at first but then blossomed, striking 12 threes and one four from 110 balls in just under three hours.
With the first session occupying three hours, at tea Empire were 252 for seven, with Searles on 41 and Perryman five.
Searles then raised the tempo, striking the ball to and over the boundary with regularity. He also played a couple of reverse sweeps and reached the landmark with one to fine third-man for another boundary.
The hundred came in 203 minutes, from 186 deliveries, and was laced with 13 threes and seven fours. He was last out attempting a reverse sweep off Jed Yearwood who picked up five for 71.
On an eventful day, YMPC fast bowler Tennyson Roach was found guilty of ball-tampering by the umpires during the 82nd over of the day – the 11th over with the second new ball. Empire were credited with five penalty runs, the ball was changed, and Roach was given an official warning.
