WI local: 6-wicket haul for pacers

Two big fast bowlers had a 'big' day yesterday, taking six wickets each on Day 2 of the ninth round of matches in the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 competition. Former West Indies pacer Patterson Thompson grabbed six for 27 as ICB Empire closed in on first innings points against Mount Gay Maple. Dayne Maynard, like Thompson powerfully-built and menacing, collected six for 35 as BNB St. Catherine motored to a first innings lead over CHIC Schools South.

At Bank Hall: Maple 89 vs Empire 87-6.

Thompson undermined Maple but home team Empire struggled in the last hour against some impressive seam bowling from young pacer Pedro Depeiza.

Thompson, bowling lively at times, looked to be the bowler who caused worries for regional batsmen a few seasons back, having two lbws, and bowling down two others. However, the visitors fought back to rattle the home team's innings.

Beginning their innings just after tea, Empire had an early setback as Depeiza trapped veteran opener Mike Inniss leg-before for 14 and thereafter wickets fell steadily.

After Sherlon Greaves, who shared a second-wicket stand of 41 with Jason Haynes, was caught at slip, the next four Empire wickets fell for just 16 runs. Depeiza has so far taken five wickets for 31 runs.

At Harrison College: Schools South 76 vs St Catherine 146-8.

Maynard's fine line and length routed CHIC Schools South for a paltry total which the visitors quickly erased to set up a possible victory next week.

BNB St. Catherine held a lead of 70 runs with two wickets remaining after brisk batting in the post-tea session.

Opener Kayode Pantophlet led the way with a fluent 39 off 59 balls with a six and a four, while Sean Sargeant, Dale Mason and Horace Waldron all kept the tempo going.

Captain Rohan Thompson, bowling leg-breaks, and left-arm spinner Derick Bishop shared seven wickets for the student.

At Queen's Park: Banks 181 vs Spartan.

An entertaining 85 by Michael Maynard and a five-wicket haul by Aaron Barker were the highlights.

Maynard, a One-Day selectee for Barbados, pushed competition leaders Banks to a challenging total, but off-spinner Barker's five for 35 put the brakes on the innings.

The flamboyant Maynard smashed nine fours and a six over cover before being run out.

Banks were cruising on 93 for two, but Barker flighted the ball well in his 13 consecutive overs. With 21 overs to bat, the Parkites were off to a solid start, but lost two wickets near the close, one to a senseless run-out.

At Wildey: Cable and Wireless BET 309 vs Wanderers 158-7.

The home side had its sights set on taking first innings lead, when Cockspur Wanderers, with a poor batting show, virtually slipped out of contention.

BET, continuing from 296 for six overnight, were all out for an additional 13 runs. Medium pacer Chris Humphrey took the remaining wickets to end with five for 56.

A 75-run second-wicket stand between Sean Armstrong (67) and skipper Owen Birch (45) boosted their team's reply but Wanderers soon collapsed after the departure of both batsmen.

At Blenheim: BCL 143 vs Schools North 15-0.

Resuming the day on 26 for one, BCL lost quick wickets before Brian Neblett, 25, and Donville Brathwaite, 31, arrested the slide with a fifth-wicket stand of 44.

They were still not out of the woods and the lower order rallied to post a moderate score. Fast bowler Ryan Nurse, with four for 30, was the most successful bowler for CHIC Schools North, while leg-spinner Ryan Layne took two for 41.

At the close, the schoolboys' openers kept their wickets intact and will be looking to next week's final day.

At Beckles Road: YMPC 167 and 30-4 vs Police 136.

After five months in England, Kenrick Marshall announced his return with a good all-round performance. He and fellow medium-pacer Alvin Campbell left YMPC reeling at the close.

Marshall scored 17, then took two wickets for ten runs and also held a catch.

'After being in England for five months, I was trying to get back into the groove with the different pitches here, the harder, firmer wickets, so my batting is coming on,' Marshall said. 'I thought it [the bowling] was brilliant, I got the ball to do what I wanted it to and I am happy with how it went.'

Stanton Proverbs also got into the act. After top-scoring with 30, he captured the wicket of Jerome Gittens who was just settling in.

Earlier in the day, Police were bowled out 31 behind YMPC, with Barry Lowe capturing four for 34.

At Kensington Oval: Carlton 123 vs Pickwick 55-1.

An unbroken second-wicket partnership of 50 between Jason Gilkes and Raymond Griffith put ESA Field Pickwick on course for first-innings lead.

Griffith struck six fours in an unbeaten 37 off 35 balls, while Gilkes exercised extreme patience in scoring six not out off 39 balls.

Medium-pacer Tennyson Roach (4-39) led Pickwick's effort in reducing Carlton to 123 on a bowler friendly, rain-affected pitch. Sadiq Hill scored 36 off 74 balls with five fours to topscore for Carlton, while Ryan Clarke at No.10 counted one six and one four in an undefeated 24 off 26 balls.