WI Domestic: Anguilla begin with a bang

The Anguilla National Cricket team started the 2000 Liat Sponsored Leeward Islands Cricket Tournament with a bang this past weekend at the Ronald Webster Park when they defeated Montserrat in both the three-day and one-day matches.

In the three-day match that began last Thursday, Montserrat won the toss and asked the home team to bat first. Anguilla started well with a 59 run opening partnership between skipper and Leeward Islands opener, Alex Adams and Leon Lake who put together a solid 22 before he was caught behind. Zachary Kenworthy, who scored 19, then joined Adams as they put together an even more substantial partnership of 74. Another solid 50-run partnership between Adams and his brother Terry (18) also followed but the most substantial batting of the day came when Pauliver Rogers (19) added 100 with his skipper.

The most spectacular performance of the day, however, came from Alex Adams himself who crashed his way to 208. It was his second time he had ever passed 200 in the Leeward Islands Tournament after his record breaking 308 not out against the Virgin Islands a couple of years ago. His innings lasted 252 balls, 282 minutes and was laced with 27 crisp boundaries. It was a most admirable performance by the Anguillian skipper who helped his side amass 342 all-out.

West Indies under-15 pacer was the pick of the bowlers for Montserrat as he claimed 4 for 62 from 14 overs. He was well supported by former West Indies youth pacer Tyrone Greenaway who claimed 3 for 100 and Oakland Graves, 2 for 62.

In reply, Montserrat were skittled out for a mere 131. Only captain Devon Williams (34), Mark Stephanie (29) and Gregory Willock (27) managed substantial scores. The Anguillian pacers bowled with tremendous pace and fire, howver it was off-spinner Pauliver Rogers who was the pick of the bowlers with a tremendous spell of 6 for 30 from 12.1 overs. Pacer Eversley Browne also claimed 2 wickets.

Seeing that Montserrat's first innings score was more than 150 runs behind Anguilla's, Alex Adams asked the Montserrat team to bat again. Although they batted far better than in the first innings, 189 was just not enough. Only wicketkeeper David Lane managed to fight off the Anguillian bowling attack with an even 100. He was also well supported by Tyrone Greenaway who played a cameo innings of 40. Offspinner, Chaka Hodge was the pick of the bowlers with an attacking spell of 5 for 45 from 19.2 overs. Richard Stevens also claimed 2 wickets.

In the one-day match on Sunday Montserrat won the toss again and elected to bat as they accumulated 184 all-out from 49.1 overs. Mark Stephanie top scored with 49 and was ably assisted by David Lane who added to his century in the three-day match with a solid 44. Tyrone Greenaway also supported his team's cause with a quick-fire 26. Pacer, Eversley Browne was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 23 and was very well supported by offspinner Chaka Hodge who claimed 3 for 33.

In reply, Anguilla made the victory more difficult than it actually should have been and were somewhat struggling at 78 for 4 with Alex Adams (10), Lake (17), Carlos Sasso (14) and Kenworthy (15), who all got starts, back in the pavilion. However, Rudolph Proctor and Terry Adams steadied the ship into safer waters, but when Proctor was dismissed for 30 Anguilla's situation became more uncertain. However, Chaka Hodge added a quick 17 to Anguilla's total and Adam's finished on 43 not out which turned the game into Anguilla's favour. Adams played with a cool head and saw his team through to victory in a very tense one-day.

The Liat Leeward Islands Tournament continues this weekend at the RWP with Anguilla taking on rivals St. Kitts in the three-day match from Thursday to Saturday and in the one-day on Sunday.