NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Embattled Leeward Islands Hurricanes pivoted on Montcin Hodge’s maiden first class century to flourish against leaders Guyana Jaguars on the second day of their ninth round game in the Regional four-day championship here Saturday.
Unbeaten on 74 overnight, the right-handed Hodge ended on a superb unbeaten 149 as Hurricanes, resuming the day on 237 for three, were eventually dismissed for 430 on the stroke of tea at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Hurricanes were rocking on 298 for seven before lunch but Hodge anchored two great stands to see the hosts to their eventual total.
He put on 40 for the eighth wicket with Jeremiah Louis (18) before adding a superb 91 for the ninth wicket with Gavin Tonge whose entertaining 59 required a mere 63 deliveries and contained six fours and three sixes.
Jaguars then slumped to 61 for three at the close, still 369 runs behind heading into day three of the contest.
Left-hander Vishaul Singh was unbeaten on 20 at the close and was partnered by nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo on two.
Hurricanes made early inroads into the Jaguars innings when fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, the Under-19 World Cup star, had Test opener Rajindra Chandrika caught at the wicket in the second over for four with the score on six for one.
In-form captain Leon Johnson also failed, departing to a catch at the wicket off pacer Gavin Tonge for 12 at 23 for two.
Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul attempted a repair job with Vishaul, putting on 29 for the third wicket but he gave wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton his third catch of the innings off off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall when he had scored 13 in nearly two hours at the crease.
Hodge had earlier taken the spotlight with a well-played hundred which included 17 fours and came from 392 balls in 8-1/2 hours.
Orlando Peters fell to the first ball of the day for 29, bowled by pacer Ronsford Beaton, and Hodge and Hamilton (20) added 30 before being separated.
Hurricanes then lost three wickets for 31 runs to slide to 298 for seven before Hodge, Louis and Tonge took charge.
Seamer Chris Barnwell (2-68), leg-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-77), Beaton (2-82), left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (2-83) and leg-spinner Bishoo (2-115), all picked up two wickets each.
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Scores:
HURRICANES 430 (Montcin Hodge 149 not out, Gavin Tonge 59, Kieran Powell 55, Daron Cruickshank 43, Keacy Carty 33, Orlando Peters 29; Chris Barnwell 2-68, Veerasammy Permaul 2-77)
JAGUARS 61 for three (Vishaul Singh 20 not out)
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HURRICANES 1st Innings (overnight 237 for three)
K Powell c Reifer b Barnwell 55
K Carty c and b Permaul 33
M Hodge not out 149
D Cruickshank lbw b Permaul 43
*O Peters c wkp Bramble b Beaton 29
+J Hamilton lbw b Beaton 20
R Cornwall c Johnson b Barnwell 11
J Taylor lbw b Bishoo 6
J Louis c T. Chanderpaul b Bishoo 18
G Tonge c T. Chanderpaul b Reifer 59
A Joseph c wkp Bramble b Reifer 0
Extras (b4, lb1, w1, nb1) 7
TOTAL (all out, 149 overs) 430
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-114, 3-172, 4-237, 5-267, 6-283, 7-298, 8-338, 9-429, 10-430.
Bowling: Beaton 25-5-82-2 (w1), Reifer 27-5-83-2 (nb1), Barnwell 18-2-68-2, Bishoo 39-8-115-2, Permaul 40-16-77-2.
JAGUARS 1st Innings
T Chanderpaul c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 13
R Chandrika c wkp Hamilton b Joseph 4
*L Johnson c wkp Hamilton b Tonge 12
Vishaul Singh not out 20
D Bishoo not out 2
Extras (b4, lb5, w1) 10
TOTAL (3 wkts, 35 overs) 61
To bat: S Chanderpaul, C Barnwell, R Reifer, +A Bramble, V Permaul, R Beaton.
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-23, 3-52.
Bowling: Tonge 8-3-9-1, Joseph 7-1-14-1 (w1), Louis 6-2-5-0, Cornwall 9-4-15-1, Cruickshank 2-0-6-0, Taylor 2-1-2-0, Powell 1-0-1-0.
Position: Jaguars trail Hurricanes by 369 runs with seven wickets intact.
Toss: Hurricanes.
Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Patrick Gustard.