― Hodge, Bonner set up highest successful run chase
Montcin Hodge and Nkrumah Bonner put on 145 runs for the fourth wicket to help hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes complete the highest successful run chase in Regional First Class cricket when their second round clash in the Digicel Regional Four Day ended on Monday at Warner Park.
After being set an imposing 369 to win, the Hurricanes began the final day on 47 without loss still needing 322 runs to win with all 10 second innings wickets in hand against defending champions Guyana Jaguars who felt they have done enough to pull off their 20th consecutive victory since the Professional Cricket League began in 2015.
Kevin Stoute appeals for a LBW decision against Roshon Primus at the Queen’s Park Oval
The Hurricanes batted with purpose in partnerships to complete the four wicket victory within the final hour of the match which ended with the artificial lights at Warner Park switched on. Wicketkeeper, Jahmar Hamilton crashed Gudakesh Motie for a towering six over long on to end the match when three runs were needed to create history and seven needed for his 15th First Class half century.
The powerfully built right hander was in a crucial unbeaten 63-run partnership with fast bowler Jeremiah Louis for the seventh wicket after joining forces at 309 for 6 when Rakheem Cornwall was run out brilliantly by Rajendra Chandrika to add some twist to the run chase. At that point the game was still wide open as the Jaguars were on the hunt for wickets and the Hurricanes were on a mission to stop the attack.
The victory was set up nicely when Captain Kieran Powell and Montcin Hodge laid the foundation with 93. However, after dismissing Powell when he passed his second half century of the match, the Jaguars began to peg away at the Hurricanes’ batting with wickets at intervals not soon enough, the writing was on the wall. Akeem Saunders 14 and Chesney Hughes followed but Hodge found another useful partner in franchise player, Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner and together they took the game away from the visitors.
Jaguars’ captain Leon Johnson rang the changes searching for wickets but at 286 for 3 the home fans were anticipating. When Hodge’s resistance finally ended after 287 balls (10×4; 1×6) he had passed his second First Class century and have done enough for Hamilton and Louis to finish off much to the delight of the home team’s supporters. For the win the Hurricanes collected 15.4 points while the Jaguars bagged 6.2.
The Jaguars will now travel to St. Lucia where they will meet the winless Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium from Friday in a day/night fixture while the Hurricanes will travel to Port of Spain to take on the hot and cold Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Queen’s Park Oval also from Friday. In other results, Jamaica Scorpions rebounded from their opening round defeat to sting the Volcanoes by 41 runs in a low scoring thriller at Sabina Park while the Barbados Pride stun home team the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by a mammoth 292 runs early on the final day.
