By: T. Chapman
Photo Caption: Montcin Hodge celebrates scoring his first century of the 2016 four day tournament
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, SKNP – Right-handed opener Montcin Hodge stroked a superb, century to help Leeward Islands brush aside Guyana by four wickets, in a new regional record chase in their second four-day game of the Digicel Regional tournament.
Set 369 for victory at Warner Park, the Leewards executed their team game well as they won with four wickets to spare, (372-6) .
Captain Powell and Montcin Hodge gave their side a brilliant start by adding 93 for the first wicket. Powell having hit 5(4’s) and 1(6) was the first to go. He scored 54, his second half century in four innings.
Thereafter, Hodge steadied the innings after a mini slide when two other wickets fell. Bonner who now occupied the crease with Hodge ensured the Leewards were in with a fighting chance.
The two put together a partnership in excess of 100 runs for the fourth wicket before Hodge was stumped for 114. Bonner followed shortly after for a well played 82 and suddenly Guyana seemingly felt there was some hope to make further inroads into the Leeward Islands batting order as Cornwall was runout without scoring.
However, Jahmar Hamilton wasn’t having any of that. With Jeremiah Louis occupying the wicket at the non-strikers end, victory was already insight for the Leewards: Hamilton, (49*) and Louis, (26*) collected the singles and dispatched the bad balls to the boundary.
Both players applied themselves and saw the Leewards to their first victory of the tournament having previously secured first innings points against Barbados in a drawn game.
Scores in the match are as follows:
Leewards vs Guyana – Regional 4 Day
Leewards 372/6
Guyana 293/9 Leewards 158 Guyana 233/8decl
Hamilton 49* Louis 26* ( Target 369) Leewards win by 4 wickets.
Powell 54. Saunders 10 Hughes 22, Hodge 114. Bonner 82.Cornwall 0
Wkts: Permaul 4. Reifer 1
Barnwell 61 Powell 79 Cornwall 6/87 Shiv 81*Chandrika (ret) 64*
