WI local: Puckerin puts Spartan in control

A typically pugnacious 90 by former Barbados wicket-keeper Livy Puckerin yesterday placed Big B Spartan in a strong position to push for a victory against CHIC Schools North.

The thick-set Puckerin struck six sixes and nine fours in his 72-ball innings before hitting a full toss on his legs straight into the lap of Ryan Layne on the backward square-leg boundary.

But while Puckerin was plundering the bowling, Rohan Walcott ably supported him by providing the strike and he stepped up the tempo a bit after Puckerin's departure to be unbeaten on 51 when Kerry Lucas declared just before 5.30 p.m.

Walcott and Puckerin, who came together with the score on 73 for four, added 122 for the fifth wicket that was mainly responsible for Spartan taking a first innings lead of 104 over the youngsters.

Pacer Antonio Thomas was the most successful bowler as he bagged five wickets for 65 runs off his 15 overs.

With just 11 overs to face Corey Clarke and Jason Collins were bombarded with some hostile bowling from Hattian Graham who struck Collins on his forearm and it deflected onto his helmet.

However, it was left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn who trapped Collins with a ball that kept low.