WI local: Empire Scalps Revive YMPC

A sterling fightback by Caribbean Lumber YMPC against ICB Empire was overshadowed by angry outbursts from several spectators moments after play finished in poor light yesterday.

Stumps were drawn at 6:23 p.m. after Empire lost two wickets in the space of six balls. It triggered outrageous responses from many of those on the sidelines who were of the view that the light was inadequate.

YMPC persisted with their fast bowlers to the very end and they were rewarded with the scalps of the experienced Mike Inniss and nightwatchman Marlon Blagrove in the dying stages.

The left-handed Inniss was given out lbw to one from Barry Lowe that struck him full on the back foot.

In the next over, new recruit Fidel Edwards found the edge of Blagrove's bat for a catch to the 'keeper.

Those wickets left YMPC on top on a day in which fortunes shifted back and forth after Roland Holder invited the visitors to bat first on a typically grassy pitch that contained generous bounce.

Marlon Blagrove collected five scalps, but Empire's cause was not helped by at least five missed chances, two each going to the batsmen with the most significant contributions, Jerome Gittens and captain William Lashley.

Gittens, in arguably his finest innings at this level for some time, batted impressively after weathering the early burst to make 57 off 78 balls.

Missed at 41 and 52, he was just beginning to play with command against Sherlon Greaves' leg-spin when he holed out to long-off against the same bowler.

It ended a sixth-wicket stand of 64 between Gittens and Lashley, who was also given let-offs at 20 and 31.

He had added only two more when Blagrove pinned him on the backfoot to gain an lbw decision.

That was the fourth wicket for Blagrove who had put YMPC under early pressure by claiming a double-strike with his first two balls of the day.

He had the left-handed Ian Straughn caught at second slip and yorked Wendell Coppin first ball to leave YMPC 46 for four.

The fightback started with a partnership of 40 between Gittens and Roger Coward, who made 21.