Empire lead Pickwick by nose

ICB Empire squeezed out first innings points over front-runners ESA Field Pickwick amidst high drama yesterday. The other highlight on the second day of seventh-round matches in the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 matches was a century from Big B Spartan captain Philo Wallace that has paved the way for a likely victory against Mount Gay Maple.

At Bank Hall (Pickwick 173 & 19-0, Empire 180): Pickwick off-spinner Ryan Austin bowled impressively for a return of six for 68 but his effort failed to stop Empire from securing the lead.

Jason Haynes and Roland Holder put together 57 for the third wicket with hardly any fuss, but the fall of Haynes at 78 for three triggered a collapse.

When Holder was lbw to Austin for 60, the situation looked almost hopeless for Empire at 120 for seven.

Alcindor Holder and Marlon Blaggrove put on a crucial 43 for the eighth wicket but both fell within three runs of each other, leaving Empire 166 for nine.

It was then left to fast bowlers Patterson Thomp-son and Chesterfield Walcott to gather the remaining runs.

At Trents (Maple 116 & 31-6, Spartan 230-5 dec'd): After Wallace carved out a well-played unbeaten 111, fast bowler Hattian Graham claimed three quick wickets to put Spartan well in sight of their first outright win.

Wallace, unbeaten on 21 overnight, went on to register his century with 14 threes and six fours.

He was ably assited by Livy Puckerin (34), Ryan Burke (25) and Graham (34).

With a deficit of 114, Maple found themselves deep in trouble from early and were 31 for six at the close.

At St. James Secondary (Police 108 and 9-0; Schools North 210): Opener Jason Parris hit his fourth half-century of the season to steer CHIC Schools North to first innings lead over Stansfeld Scott Police.

Parris, mixing defence with controlled aggression, scored 57 as he and fellow opener Mwanga Broomes (25) put on 91.

Once the openers were sent back, wickets fell steadily thereafter, with the last five falling for just 56 runs.

Stanton Proverbs, with three for 64, and Ryan Willoughby, three for 21, were the most successful of the Police bowlers.

At Black Rock (Carlton 189, C&W BET 161-7): An interesting battle for first innings points is developing after a post-tea Cable & Wireless BET collapse orchestrated by United Carlton medium-pacer Vonrick Nurse.

Nurse, who broke a dangerous second-wicket partnership of 85 between Ron Bates (55) and Floyd Reifer (32), ended the day with four for 41.

At the close, BET, who lost seven wickets for 60 runs after reaching 100 for one, still required another 29 runs for first innings lead with three wickets in hand.

At Dayrells Road (Wanderers 91 & 52-0, Schools South 161): Spirited lower-order batting, led by all-rounder Jamal Forde's career-best 46, enabled CHIC Schools South to take a handy 70-run first innings lead over Cockspur Wanderers.

By the close, Wanderers' make-shift opening pair of acting captain Owen Birch and Stephen Leslie had scored at a run-a-minute to leave their team in arrears by only 18 runs.

Forde shared a face-saving eighth-wicket stand of 52 with leg-spinner Junior Holder, who made a valuable 18, after they joined forces at 76 for seven with another 16 runs still required for the lead.

Fast-medium bowler Irwin Armstrong wrapped up the innings with the second new ball to finish with the flattering figures of five for 30.

At Blenheim (BCL 111 & 58-2, Banks 214): Banks maintained their grip on the match when they took a healthy first innings lead of 103.

Dale Brathwaite (43), Barry Callender (24) and Orion Bostic (23) gave the visitors that added impetus to score quickly.

BCL started their second innings comfortably with a first-wicket partnership of 33 between Rommel Brathwaite (30) and his son Randy Thomas (11), but both were dismissed before the close.

At Bayfield (St. Catherine 135 & 126-5, YMPC 150): Caribbean Lumber YMPC's opening bowlers Barry Lowe and Fidel Edwards changed roles as they came together with the bat to feature in a last-wicket stand of 66 that gave their side first innings points against BNB St. Catherine.

Lowe made 66 and Edwards 16 not out as the visitors recovered from 84 for nine.

Batting a second time, St. Catherine ended with an overall lead of 109 and five wickets in hand.