ST JOHN’S, Antigua—Jermaine Blackwood scored the first century of the 2025 West Indies Championship as batsmen dominated the opening day contests in the four territories.
While Blackwood stroked an unbeaten 101 to help the Jamaica Scorpions reach 291 for seven against the Windward Island Volcanoes, eight other batters scored half centuries to put their teams in strong positions.
At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Despite rain only allowing 54 overs to be bowled, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force still ended the day in the ascendancy at 171 for two against the Combined Campuses and Colleges thanks to openers Cephas Cooper, who scored 80 and Vikash Mohan who made 66.
Much of the morning and afternoon session was lost due to persistent showers, but Cooper and Mohan put on 139 runs for the first wicket to give their side a solid start.
At Arnos Vale: Former West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood scored a patient century to help rescue the Jamaica Scorpions in their match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Blackwood ended the day unbeaten on 101 from 198 balls and together with Daniel Beckford who made a passive 39 from 101 balls, staged a recovery after the Scorpions had slipped to 164 for five.
Captain John Campbell cracked 79 from 91 balls at the top of the order.
So far, leg spinner Darel Cyrus has taken 2-26.
At the Coolidge Cricket Ground: Jahmar Hamilton scored a crucial, unbeaten 67 and Karima Gore made 59 to lead the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a strong position of 290 for six against the West Indies Academy.
Hamilton and Gore came together with the Hurricanes in a spot of bother at 128 for four after left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop had ripped through the top order.
The pair added 110 runs to carry their side to relative safety and following Gore’s dismissal, Hamilton teamed up with Hayden Walsh Jr to add 38 valuable runs to keep the Scorpions in the drivers’ seat.
Bishop has so far taken 4-81.
At the Guyana National Stadium: The Barbados Pride produced a solid batting effort to ensure the defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles toiled all day.
Despite half centuries from opener Zachary McCaskie, who made 64 and Jonathan Drakes who scored 70, a decisive spell of spin bowling by off spinner Richie Looknauth put Guyana in control of the match with the visitors struggling on 191 for six.
But a counter attacking knock of 82 from 91 balls by Matthew Forde, together with some resolute batting by the Pride’s lower order turned the contest around in the evening session.
Forde put on 119 for the seventh wicket with Chaim Holder, who made 35 and then fast bowler Chemar Holder blasted 29 from 30 balls with two sixes and two fours to ensure the Pride finished with a flourish.
Looknauth led the way for Guyana with Richie Looknauth 4-69, while Ronaldo Alimohamed and Veerasammy Permaul took two wickets apiece. (CMC)
SUMMARISED SCORES
At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Combined Campuses & Colleges.
RED FORCE 165-2 in 49.4 overs (Cephas Cooper 80, Vikash Mohan 66, Jyd Goolie 13 not out).
At Arnos Vale
Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Jamaica Scorpions.
SCORPIONS 291-7 in 87 overs (Jermaine Blackwood 101 not out, John Campbell 79, Daniel Beckford 39, Odean Smith 16, Carlos Brown 12; Darel Cyrus 2-26).
At the Coolidge Cricket Ground
West Indies Academy vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
HURRICANES 290-6 in 90 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 67 not out, Karima Gore 59, Kadeem Henry 48, Joshua Grant 34, Shelton Forbes 22, Hayden Walsh Jr 21, Rahkeem Cornwall 13 not out; Joshua Bishop 4-81).
At the Guyana National Stadium
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Barbados Pride.
PRIDE 346 in 84.3 overs (Matthew Forde 82, Jonathan Drakes 70, Zachary McCaskie 64, Chaim Holder 35, Chemar Holder 29, Leniko Boucher 19, Demetrius Richards 13; Richie Looknauth 4-69, Ronaldo Alimohamed 2-37, Veerasammy Permaul 2-87).
(CMC)