2003 BCA FIRST DIVISION REVIEW

 SERIES 1, MAY 24, 25

Martin Nurse slams double-century for Schools off BCL as four teams are victorious

A BOUNDARY-STUDDED double-century by gifted CHIC Combined Schools captain and opening batsman Martin Nurse against the Barbados Cricket League (BCL), highlighted the opening round of matches in the 2003 BCA First division championship.

Left-hander Nurse, still 18 days shy of his 18^th birthday, blazed his way to 213 in a first innings total of 350 for eight declared to set up victory by an innings and 80 runs at the Lester Vaughan school, Cane Garden.

It was the first time in 34 years that a schoolboy had scored a double-century in the Division 1 championship. Stephen Farmer hit 203 not out for Lodge against Spartan at Society ‘A’ in 1969.

Apart from the Schools, there were victories for title holders Banks, United Carlton and ICB Empire over Mount Gay Maple, Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme and Cable & Wireless.

Caribbean Lumber YMPC, BNB St. Catherine and Super Centre Spartan gained first innings points against Police, ESA Field Pickwick and Harris Paints Wanderers.

AT LESTER VAUGHAN, CANE VAUGHAN: MAY 24, 2003, is a day that Martin Nurse would never forget. Already with two consecutive impressive seasons behind him, he started in a blaze of glory, as the hapless BCL bowlers could find no answer to his onslaught.

Nurse slammed 18 sixes and 19 fours – 184 runs in boundaries – as the BCL were haunted by their decision to put the schoolboys in.

His first hundred took 149 minutes off 77 balls and he added only 58 minutes and 49 deliveries in racing to the double.

Nurse featured in two century partnerships – 118 for the second wicket with fellow national under-19 player, wicket-keeper Jamal Smith, who made 32, and 167 for the fourth wicket with Jason Worrell (43).

Off-spinner Dave Clarke took five for 90 off 16 overs.

By the close of the opening day, beleaguered BCL had slumped to 83 for six. They were eventually bowled out for 134 with Tori Harbin’s 42 the topscore. Kamal Turney contributed 31.

Fast bowler Javon Searles, who caused the early problems, was the main wrecker with five for 45 off 11 overs.

The BCL did marginally better after they were forced to follow-on before folding for 136. Carlos Neblett made 38, Jarvis Forde 33 and Dwayne Lynch 24.

This time, off-spinner Rommel Small was in the forefront of the rout with five for 27.

AT PARAGON: OFF-SPINNER Ryan Austin celebrated his first season with Carlton by ending with match figures of ten for 131 as the Black Rock team beat BDFSP by 52 runs.

On a sensational first day when 22 wickets fell for 347 runs, Carlton gained a 37-run first innings lead and then stretched it to 45 by the close with eight wickets intact.

Led by 73 from Barbados player Kurt Wilkinson, Carlton scored 188. The next best score came from Dale Richards with 33.

Pacer Corey Edwards took three for 38.

Despite a solid 70 from opener Shane Mayers, the home side fell for 151 as Wilkinson completed a fine day by snapping up four for 37 with his medium-pace. Austin, who belatedly parted company with ESA Field Pickwick, picked up four for 75.

Carlton recovered from a disastrous start to their second innings when the first four wickets tumbled for 21 runs including the first two without a run scored, through a fifth stand of 91 between Richards (81) and Vonrick Nurse (47).

A total of 170 all out left BDFSP with 208 to win and they were dismissed for 155.

Rawle Benn got 46 at the top and new West Indies fast bowler Tino Best showed he has some batting ability by contributing 35 at No.6.

Austin, again given the privilege of using the new ball, took six for 56 off 42.3 overs.

Wilkinson once more showed his handy all-round ability by chipping in with three for 41.

AT BANK HALL: EMPIRE overwhelmed Cable & Wireless by ten wickets as medium-pacer Ian Perryman grabbed a match haul of nine for 66.

On a typically fast pitch, Cable & Wireless were fired out for 94 after losing the toss. Ryan Layne’s 23 was the best effort as Perryman snapped up five for 28 and the strongly built fast bowler Ryan “Chicken Breast” Nurse, three for 26.

By the close, Empire had established a lead of 114 on being bowled out for 218. But it represented a collapse after two Jasons – Haynes and Parris – had added 112 for the first wicket.

Parris made 57 and left-hander Haynes fell for 49. Captain and veteran batsman Roland Holder contributed 38 and Nurse 24.

Leg-spinner Layne took five for 57 and experienced pacer Gordon Maxwell three for 41.

Cable & Wireless struggled to 122 all out in their second innings with Brian Johnson scoring 28, and Barbados captain Courtney Browne and Layne 25 each.

Perryman (four for 38) and Nurse (three for 26) were again the wreckers as Empire were left with just nine runs to win.

AT TRENTS: LEFT-ARM spinner Anderson Sealy took a match haul of ten for 82 as Banks again sent an early message that they are bent on a hat-trick of titles with a nine-wicket demolition of Maple.

As was the case at Bank Hall, Maple were rolled over for the identical first innings total (94) after they were asked to bat by Winston Reid.

Veteran Jefferson Gibbons scored 37 as Sealy took five for 27 and pacer Dwayne Jordan, three for 22.

In typically, aggressive style, Banks responded with 191 for five declared as West Indies discards Sherwin Campbell and Grenadian Junior Murray jointly topscored with 67. Dale Brathwaite made 33 not out.

Maple were under pressure on 35 for three at the close and rallied to 101 all out. Khalid Springer got 28.

Sealy snapped up five for 55 and Reid, who has bemused batsmen at this level for many years with his left-arm spin, took four for 30.

Banks lost Donovan Lovell without scoring in knocking off the five runs for victory.

AT WEYMOUTH ‘A’: YMPC amassed the highest first innings total of the series – 265 for eight declared as three batsmen got into the 60s.

William Lashley, who topscored with 69 and fellow all-rounder and former captain Wendell Coppin, with 60, featured in the best partnership – 107 for the sixth wicket.

New captain Adrian Jones hit 66 including nine fours and two sixes as he dominated an opening partnership of 84 with Jason Codrington, whose contribution was just 16.

Spinner Jimmy Small took four for 71.

Police closed the opening day on 86 for two with opener Dwayne Yearwood, over from the BDFSP, hitting an even fifty. They eventually struggled to 179 for nine declared.

YMPC tried for full points by declaring their second innings on 119 for two after 21 overs (Lashley 34 not out; Jones 29; Codrington 23), setting Police 206 for victory, but time and overs were against them and the home side ended on 106 for three.

Opener Stephen Herbert made 66 including seven fours and three sixes.

AT BAYFIELD: ST. CATHERINE earned a hard-fought lead by five runs as seasoned fast bowler Brian Shepherd stood out with a five-wicket haul.

In response to a total of 235 all out, Pickwick were given some hope by the sixth wicket pair of Anthony Hurley and Jason Hinds, who added 62 after the first five wickets fell for 94.

Pickwick resumed the final day on 105 for five with Hurley on 11 and Hinds, three. Hurley, a younger brother of Barbados and West Indies player Ryan Hurley, topscored with 52 and Hinds, also a younger brother of another Barbados and West Indies player, Ryan Hinds, made 38.

Ryan Hinds, who was one of the first five victims, got 45 and veteran opener George Harris, 34.

Shepherd picked up two wickets on the final day to finish with five for 65.

Shawn Sargeant led St. Catherine’s effort after they had won the toss with a knock of 78, batting at No. 3. Thelston Payne, now in his 26^th season at this level – he has only played for St. Catherine – weighed in with 69. Kenroy Williams got 24.

Opening bowler Jabari Wickham took four for 48 although he was somewhat expensive having sent down 6.5 overs and Ryan Hinds’ left-arm spin brought him three for 81.

Batting practice was in store for the “country” side in their second innings and Dale Mason took advantage by scoring 62 in a total of 176 for six. Williams made 39 and Sargeant 38.

AT QUEEN’S PARK: DESPITE lower order resistance, Spartan still managed a 30-run first innings lead.

Chasing 287 for the lead, Wanderers slipped from 95 for two overnight to 111 for seven as they were tested by spin “twins” Dave Marshall and Sulieman Benn.

The experienced Gavin Beresford struck an unbeaten 67 as he and former Barbados and West Indies limited overs player Hendy Bryan (33) first led a recovery with a stand of 

57.

There was further frustration for the Parkites when Beresford and Pedro Collins (32), better known in the international arena as a left-arm pacer, added 88. Captain Dwayne Nurse contributed 47 after resuming the final day on 38.

Left-armer Benn grabbed six for 59 off 29 overs and leg-spinner and captain Marshall took three for 83.

Spartan’s total was set up by the first wicket pair of Wayne Blackman, who topscored with 61 and Corey Yearwood (32) in a partnership of 94 after Wanderers won the toss.

Useful contributions came from Benn with 45, the gifted Kevin Stoute (37) and wicket-keeper Damien Maynard (33).

Collins, who lost his place in the West Indies team after the first two Tests of the recent home series against Australia, took three for 86.