Thorne, Bishop script Academy win by innings and 134 runs
An all-round impressive performance from the West Indies Academy, with notable contributions from Guyanese Isai Thorne and Barbadian Joshua Bishop, saw them wrapping up their first four-day Test against Emerging Ireland early on day 3, by an innings and 34 runs.
Emerging Ireland, after opting to bat first, posted 213 in the first innings with Murray Commins top scoring with 93 off 123 deliveries, including 17 boundaries.
However, West Indies Academy were exceptional with the bat on Sunday, crafting a 196-run lead.
Number eight batsman Joshua Bishop was the highlight of the West Indian batting innings, hitting a superb century to bring up his maiden First-Class ton. Bishop smashed nine fours and eight sixes on his way to a blistering 70-ball 102.
Joshua Bishop smashed a century on Sunday and followed up with two wickets on Monday
Earlier in the innings, Teddy Bishop and Kevlon Anderson did a remarkable repair job for the home side after losing two early wickets. Teddy missed out on a century, hitting 90 from 159 deliveries, punctuated by 13 boundaries, while the Guyanese Anderson pitched in with 79 from 149 balls, for a strong third- wicket partnership.
At the tail, bowler Johann Layne brought up the third half-century for the Academy, hitting 56 off 50 deliveries to propel his team to 409, all- out.
Isai Thorne took a 4-for in both innings
With a 196-run lead, West Indies Academy skipper Nyeem Young began Ireland’s undoing on Sunday afternoon, near close of play as he removed James McCollum and Cade Carmichael for eight and two runs respectively. And later, Guyanese spinner Ashmead Nedd sent Commins back to the dugout for a measly two runs from 15 balls.
However, it was on Monday morning that Thorne began to breathe fire, in order to rout Ireland for 62 runs.
Thorne’s 4-8 from 6 overs, included two maidens and the wickets of Stephen Doheny, Scott MacBeth, Gavin Hoey, and Fionn Hand. It was the second time the Guyanese has taken a 4-for in this match, after claiming 4-33 from 9.4 overs in Ireland’s first batting innings.
To back up Thorne, Joshua Bishop took 2-5 from 4.4 overs, while Layne took another wicket to wrap the game up before lunch on Monday.
Doheny had the top score for the visitors with 17 from 55 balls, while the only other batter to cross double digits was Morgan Topping with 11 runs off 54 deliveries.
The Academy team will be back in action against Ireland from Saturday, December 2 for the second four-day match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
