West Indies local: Classy holder first to 100

This Season's first century came from the bat of ICB Empire captain Roland Holder, and it was done with much aplomb.

Holder, who took over the captaincy of ICB Empire this season after a lay-off from the job, made 108, while getting good support from Shawn Graham, who made 59 in a run-a-minute fourth-wicket stand of 151.

Banks fast bowler Gregory Alleyne, who claimed five for 28 off 15.2 overs, proved a handful for all but Holder.

It was total dominance from the former West Indies bat, who applied all his vast experience in the first half of his innings.

He entered with the score at 16 for two in the first hour as rookie pacer Carlos Nicholls bowled both openers.

Holder started cautiously and got two sharp chances as Empire reached tea at 95 for two. After the break he exploded.

'I've been around for some time now [since 1982] and I would be expected to handle such situations,' the 32-year-old said about the difficulties the pitch posed at the start.

'Things were a little awkward, a few near-misses, but it worked out.'

Holder's half-century came in 97 minutes off 76 balls and he required just a further 33 minutes and 39 balls to get the second fifty.

He was bowled attempting to lift Alleyne over the top after 156 minutes and 132 balls.

The highlight was when he moved from 83 to his century in one over.

He jumped from 87 to his 100 off three balls - two towering sixes over long-on and a single through mid-on from spinner David Sealy.

The persevering Alleyne bowled straight and generated pace and bounce in an inspired spell from the northern end.

Three of his victims were bowled with the middle stump being plucked from the ground, one was caught miscuing a hook, and the other cut a sharp lifter to point.