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Morton's blaze powers Leeward Islands

A round-up of the opening day of the 11th round matches of the Regional Four Day Competition

Cricinfo staff
22-Mar-2009
It was an action-packed, frenetic day at Crab Hill as Leeward Islands slammed 410 for 8 in their 90 overs against Barbados. The honours belonged to Runako Morton, who braved a groin injury after lunch to end the day unbeaten on 192. He occupied the crease for almost the entire duration, walking in with the fall of Kieran Powell in the first over. They lost Montcin Hodge in the fifth before Morton and Codville Rogers went on the attack, finishing on 126 for 3 at lunch. Morton then added 90 for the fourth wicket with Tonito Willett and 64 with captain Steve Libburd before tea. He batted with a runner after lunch and reached three figures with a straight six off Kevin Stoute. It was his second hundred of the season and 12th in his first-class career. He shared two 40-plus stand with the lower order and ended the day with an unbeaten stand of 50 for the ninth wicket with Gavin Tonge. Morton's unbeaten 192 came off 273 balls with 28 fours and two sixes.
"I know the Bajans like to play competitive cricket and I love a challenge so I guess that's why I probably have done so well against them," Morton said. "Right now, I am just looking to enjoy my cricket and do my best for the Leewards. I will just continue to perform, and leave it to the selectors to decide."
Jason Mohammed stroked a solid half century to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago(T&T) against the Windward Islands at the Arnos Vale Ground. He scored a fluent 80 as T&T closed on 238 for 5 after being put into bat. Mohammed, playing his first match of the current first-class season, was involved in two half-century partnerships, including a 79-run fifth-wicket stand with Sherwin Ganga, who remained unbeaten on 34 at the close of play. T&T got a promising start from their openers Adrian Barath and Imran Khan, who posted a 52-run stand but Deighton Butler dismissed both batsmen in quick succession. Darren Bravo fell shortly before lunch, caught at slip off Shane Shillingford for 17. T&T were steady though, in the post-lunch session and captain Daren Ganga added 89 with Mohammed in a fourth-wicket stand that ended shortly before tea. Mohammed seemed on course to securing his second first-class hundred, but was trapped leg before by Johnson Charles, after hitting eight fours and a six during his innings.
Jamaica took control on the opening day at Sabina Park, bundling out Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) for 171 before ending the day at 78 for no loss. Pacers Andrew Richardson and David Bernard and legspinner Gavin Wallace took three wickets apiece to sink CCC after they had opted to bat first. Richardson and Bernard did the early damages, claiming four wickets for five runs to leave CCC in the doldrums at 27 for 5. Nekoli Parris and Chadwick Walton resisted with a stand of 94, with Parris contributing 53. Walton fell two short of his half-century when he was run-out by Richardson and the lower order couldn't put up the same resistance. Wallace had the best figures among the three, finishing with 3 for 19 in 12 overs. The Jamaican openers, Brenton Parchment and Donovan Pagon batted out 25 overs and ensured no loss of wickets.