Hodge’s 127 helps Hurricanes blow away Jaguars on final day

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

By Brandon Corlette

It was a repeat performance from the 31-year-old Anguillan; Montcin Hodge scored a magnificent century to once more lead Hurricanes past the dominant Jaguars team. In 2016-2017, Hodge scored 114 that saw Hurricanes win by four wickets in St Kitts. At the National Stadium Providence, Hodge’s 127 produced for Hurricanes a two-wicket win.
Guyana Jaguars lost to the Leewards Islands Hurricanes three times in the past two seasons, having lost twice in the 2016-2017 season and once in the 2018-2019 season.
It was the final day at the National Stadium Providence, in the fifth round between

Guyana Jaguars and Leeward Islands Hurricanes. The visitors, Hurricanes resumed the day on 32-1, with Hodge and Keacy Carty at the batting crease. Clinton Pestano and Devendra Bishoo began proceedings, bowling in tandem, but rain interrupted during the morning session.
Hodge and Carty were solid in their stroke play, despite a minimum of chances they were unbothered. The Hurricanes reached their 50 when Carty opened the face of the bat when the ball went into the third-man boundary for four, off Pestano in the 25th over. Runs kept coming for the Hurricanes – the eventful Pestano over continued: Carty drove one down the ground for four, and the very next ball, he stroked one for four into the covers.
Hodge, who scored a century this season, stroked one into the covers for four off Paul as the Hurricanes reached 100-1 in the 33rd over. The following ball, Hodge reached his 25th half-century when he stroked Paul along the ground for a boundary.
Jaguars continued to leak runs, as Hodge and Carty marched closer to complete a monumental chase. Carty inched closer to his half-century, driving Romario

Shepherd passed covers. Two balls later, Carty played a booming cover drive off Shepherd to reach his eighth First-Class half-century.
The dynamic Hurricanes duo continued to exhibit an array of shots at Providence; Hodge then played the shot of the morning off leg-spinner Bishoo. Hodge played an inside out shot up and over mid-off for four, to dent Jaguars’ confidence in the morning session.
In over number 55, Permaul bowled a ball to Carty’ who played a loose drive to extra cover, which went into Leon Johnson’s hands and out in a split second. Carty was dropped twice in this innings, after being dropped by Bramble off Shepherd; Johnson repeated the drop-catch spree off the bowling of Permaul when he was on 58 from 149 balls.
It was a wicket-less morning session that belonged to the visitors; at lunch, Hurricanes were 151-1 in 60 overs. Hodge was unbeaten on 76 from 184 balls inclusive of ten fours while Carty was on 62 from 160 balls, including nine fours.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes were in total control, requiring 140 runs in the final two sessions on day four, with nine wickets in hand. After the lunch interval, the Jaguars were bowling a more threatening line and length, but Hurricanes batsmen were equal to the task. Nine overs into the afternoon session, Carty played a loose drive and was caught behind by Bramble off the bowling of Paul. Carty’s innings came to an end when he scored 67 from 187 balls, including nine fours.
After the 153 run partnership between Carty and Hodge, Hurricanes were 169-2

after 69.2 overs, when Akeem Saunders partnered Hodge. Jaguars slowed the game, gaining some momentum as Permaul trapped Saunders in front for nine, with the score on 180-3. Hurricanes were 197-3 at tea, requiring 94 runs in the final session, with seven wickets in hand. Hodge remained the key of the match, remaining unbeaten on 94 at tea.
The final session was underway; Terrance Wade hung around with Hodge as the pair continued to inch closer to the target. Hodge, who entered this match with 327 runs this season, was cautious in his stroke-play, but was simultaneously selective.
Hurricanes reached 200 in the 86th over bowled by Bishoo, when Wade stroked him for a boundary. Jaguars were not giving anything away to the opposition, but in the 92nd over bowled by Bishoo, Hodge was approaching his fourth First-class century. The Anguillan stroked Bishoo into the leg-side for a single and raised his helmet, soaking in the applause from his teammates. Hodge reached the landmark off 285 balls, 348 minutes and 11 boundaries.
After a 42-run partnership between Hodge and Warde, the latter was out caught by substitute fielder Gudakesh Motie off the bowling of Shepherd. Warde slashed at a wide Shepherd delivery and was brilliantly taken by Motie who required to run backwards to complete a special catch. The right-handed Warde score 25 from 50 balls, including three boundaries.
At 222-4, the giant Rahkeem Cornwall made his way to the crease with the team needing 69 runs to win. Shepherd, bowling from the media centre end, bowled Cornwall all ends up. The Hurricanes batsman was attempting to work the ball into the leg side, but was beaten by the lively Shepherd with the score on 223-5 after 94.1 overs.
Guyana-born Jaison Peters was the next Hurricanes batsman in; Hodge was still standing tall on a century and Hurricanes remained in control at that point. ia centre end, bowled Cornwall, wtre end, bowled aries.
, soaking in the applause from his teammates. selective d. Jaguars were still hoping for a miracle; Permaul, bowling from the southern end, removed the dangerous Hodge for a well-composed 127 from 325 balls, including 14 timely boundaries.
He was out caught and bowled by Permaul with the score on 282-6, ending a 59-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Peters. Seven runs seem a million miles away for the Hurricanes; at 286, Orlando Peters was dismissed by Permaul for a duck, with the score on 286-7. At one point, Jaguars were hoping for the heavens to open while Hurricanes were praying for the clouds to pass.
Jeremiah Louis partnered Peters and the pair were tasked to score some five runs, to complete a victory. Wickets continued to fall for Hurricanes, but Jaguars were out of time. Four runs later, Louis was out caught by Paul, as Permaul pocketed another wicket. It was game won by Hurricanes, when the Mahaicony boy, Peters hit Bishoo for a six into the leg side, as Hurricanes ended on 296-8, sealing a memorable two-wicket win. The game went down to the wire with rain threatening, and time was of the essence.
Peters ended his knock of 37 from 39 balls, inclusive of three fours and one six, while Jacobs was left at the non-strikers’ end on zero. Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was the best bowler on show with 4-43 in 34 overs, including 13 maidens. Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd ended with two wickets each.
The match belonged to the Hurricane’s opening batsman, Hodge, who was adjudged player of the match while Cornwall ended the match with ten wickets for 140 runs. Guyana Jaguars will play their next match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3, 2019, at the Queens Park Oval, Trinidad.