By: Tito Chapman
Montcin Hodge, the Leeward Islands opening batsman hit his second hundred of the season while Rahkeem Cornwall bagged a 10-wicket Match Haul to earn Leeward Islands Hurricanes a dramatic two-wicket victory over Guyana Jaguars.
Cornwall bagged 4-70 and 6-70 at Providence. His 10 wickets earned him his second First Class 10-wicket haul; he also moved to 24 scalps.
A formidable bowling attack coupled with good captaincy, Leewards gave themselves a fighting chance. Losing Powell early, Hodge rose to the occasion, he smashed 14 boundaries in his knock of 127 from 320 balls in close to seven hours at the crease to put the Hurricanes firmly on course for victory, after they resumed from their overnight total of 32 for one.
Paired with former WINDIES Under-19 World Cup-winning batsman Keacy Carty, the two shared a partnership worth 153 runs before the fall of the second wicket. Carty posted 67 from 193 balls in 3 ¾ hours. His innings included nine fours. Hodge also featured in a 59 run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jaison Peters.
Hodge departed before seeing his team to victory. He was caught and bowled by Veersammy Permaul.
With only nine runs needed for victorty, Hurricanes lost two more wickets before Peters, (37 not out) smashed leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo over mid-wicket for six.
With the win, the Hurricanes remain in second place with 59.8 points – 10.2 ahead of third-placed Barbados Pride. Jaguars are still out front with 85.6 points.
SUMMARY: Jaguars 196 (Christopher Barnwell 58; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-70) and 261 (Clinton Pestano 46; Cornwall 6-70) lost to Hurricanes 175 (Damion Jacobs 34; Pestano 4-50) and 296-8 (Montcin Hodge 127; Veerasammy Permaul 4-43) by two wickets
