Best v Best 4-Day: Runs for Blackwood, Hope; Chase bags 4

May 31, 2021
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Hamilton XI reeling at 44-4, trailing by 220

Jermaine Blackwood struck 85 while Shai Hope stroked 79 as Blackwood XI reached 264 all out in 62.3 overs on day one of the Best v Best 4-Day match in preparation for the South Africa Tests commencing on June 10 in St Lucia.

Roston Chase claimed 4-44 while Chemar Holder picked up 3-44, being the stand-out performers in the first innings.

Blackwood’s XI or the West Indies A lost John Campbell (20) at 62-1 and Darren Bravo (07) at 104-2. Hope continued to play positive but he watched Kyle Mayers fell for a golden duck to young Holder who was on a hat trick with Blackwood’s XI being reduced to 104-3 in 18.2 overs.

At lunch, the score was 109-3 in 21 overs with Hope on 70 (82 balls) and Blackwood on three. Hope added nine runs to his score in the morning session but was then caught at first slip attempting an expansive drive off young Jayden Seals at 123-4. Hope’s classy innings included 13 fours and one six.

Blackwood then dominated the 54-run stand with Da Silva who scored only 13 and was bowled by Jomel Warrican. The attacking Blackwood again dominated the 77-run sixth-wicket partnership with Kaveem Hodge. At tea, Blackwood’s XI were 228-5 with the captain on 70 and Hodge on 24.

Early in the final session, five wickets fell for 36 runs as Blackwood’s XI slumped to 264 all out. After hitting 10 fours and two sixes, Blackwood’s innings ended on 85 from 125 balls, when he was trapped at the wicket by the steady Warrican. Chase then removed three wickets in four balls.

He sent back Rahkeem Cornwall (06), Veerasammy Permaul (00), and Keon Harding (00) while Hodge who offered resistance, gifted his wicket, hitting one to long-on after scoring 34.

Despite a 12-minute rain interval earlier in the day, the outfield looked quick at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground. That was evident as Kieran Powell spanked Shannon Gabriel for two fours in the opening over of Jahmar Hamilton’s XI innings. West Indies B or the Hamilton’s XI ended the day on 44-4 in 15 overs.

Gabriel, Harding and Smith were the bowlers who made inroads on the quick St Lucia pitch while Kieran Powell looked promising, scoring 22. The second day will commence from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.