Jomel Warrican's Impact Spurs Empire in Barbados Elite Division Match

The return of Jomel Warrican from his brief stint with Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League sparked life into a lifeless Empire against their old rivals Spartan on the first day of their fifth-round match in the Barbados Cricket Association’s Elite Division competition at Bank Hall yesterday.

The defending champions were behind the eight-ball in the local derby, with the Parkites on 210-3 when Warrican arrived at the ground after flying in from Guyana. He then changed the complexion of the day’s play.

The left-arm spinner ended with three for 36 from 12 overs as the visitors closed on 254-8. He was supported by Nathan Sealy, the teenage left-arm spinner, who took with two for 29 from 11 overs, after he, too, returned from Guyana.

Earlier, Spartan were flying before their wings were clipped.

Skipper Akeem Springer scored an impressive 67 off 96 balls with ten threes and four fours. He added 110 for the third wicket with Mikhail Austin, who was equally impressive in 65 off 84 balls with three fours and ten threes. Marradon Bend contributed 27 and Shavon Brooks an unbeaten 19. (HE) At Beckles Road: Bayview Hospital YMPC took advantage of championship leaders’ Wanderers generous offer to bat first and plundered their attack to score 280-7 off 53 overs.

The day’s scheduled playing time was cut short by 25 overs because of rain around 1:36 p.m.

YMPC opener Raymond Kellman was savage on the bowling, hitting 80 off just 48 balls. His innings was decorated with 11 threes and nine fours and he put together 74 for the first wicket with Jai Clarke (16).

Captain Kemal Smith and Jadan Jones then dominated the Wanderers attack with a fourth-wicket partnership of 124 before they were separated.

Smith’s attacking 68 included six threes and four fours off 87 balls. A more sedate Jones crafted his way to 57 from 83 balls, inclusive of five threes and three fours.

Wanderers turned to leg-spinner Seth Agard, who collected three quick wickets just before the close as YMPC hunted quick runs in search of a declaration. (LY) At Friendship: Left-arm spinner Steve Pinder took five for 55 but UWI recovered from early trouble at 44-4 to reach a respectable 254.

At stumps, IGS Insurance Brokers Yorkshire made a solid reply of 79-1, losing the wicket of Shem Watson (38) in what was the final ball of the day. Athelbert Brathwaite was unbeaten on 32.

Pinder removed Damel Evelyn and Demario Richards from the first and fifth balls of his first over. Veterans Kyle Corbin, with 62, and Jonathan Carter (36) briefly counter attacked, adding 67 in 7.1 overs for the fifth wicket. Corbin faced 46 balls, striking six fours and three consecutive sixes off Ravendra Persaud’s first three balls, before Pinder dismissed both and UWI slumped to 124-7.

Shaquon Cave, with an even 50 off 95 balls, and Chemar Holder, with 47 from 84 deliveries, shored up the tail, posting a fighting eighth-wicket stand of 78, as the last three wickets produced 130 runs.

Fast bowler Preston McSween, in his first match of the season, dispatched the openers and ended with two for 46. (EH) At Cane Garden: A five-wicket haul from skipper Matthew Jones gave Superb Blend the upper hand against SigniaGlobe Financial BCA Youth, who won the toss and rallied to 217 off 58.2 overs.

Openers Shomario Depeiza and Rashawn Worrell solidified the visitors’ position with an unbroken stand of 42 in just eight overs by the end of the day.

Micah Greenidge fell one run short of a half-century as he and Shomari Gittens posted 40 for the Youth’s first wicket, while all-rounder Zion Brathwaite, with a fighting 38, shored up the innings with assistance from the middle and lower order.

Jones, who grabbed five for 69 off 18 overs, was ably assisted by pacer Stefaun Griffith (three for 26) while wicketkeeper Anton Lucas-Jones took four catches. (WH)