Hurricanes overcome Marooners to break losing slump
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Half-centuries from Nkrumah Bonner and Montcin Hodge, along with a brilliant spell from off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, helped Leeward Islands Hurricanes break their losing slump as they beat Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by 14 runs here Wednesday.
Without a win since the start of the Regional Four-Day Championship last November, Hurricanes successfully defended a competitive 242 for eight by restricting Marooners to 228 all out with five balls remaining in their fourth- round contest of the Regional Super50 at the St Paul’s Sports Complex.
Asked to bat first, Hurricanes flourished as Jamaican Bonner top-scored with 79, while Hodge stroked 66 and opener Shane Jeffers 32.
They appeared poised for a bigger score at 181 for three in the 44th over but they lost five wickets for 55 runs late on.
Off-spinner Mark Deyal finished with three for 32 while left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds supported with two for 46.
Opener Vikash Mohan then stroked 79 to put Marooners in control of the contest at 183 for four in the 40th over.
However, Cornwall snapped up four for 21 from his nine overs while medium pacer Daron Cruickshank snared three for 28 to engineer a collapse where Marooners lost their last six wickets for 45 runs.
Hurricanes are now third in Group B on six points with Marooners lying bottom on four points at the end of the fourth round. Windward Islands Volcanoes lead with 14 points, six points clear of the second-placed Guyana Jaguars.
Gunning for their first win, Hurricanes lost left-hander Chesney Hughes for four at 13 for one in the third over, but recovered well through two successive, half-century stands.
Hodge added 51 for the second wicket with Jeffers who struck five fours in a 54-ball knock before he was bowled by off-spinner Mohan in the 17th over.
Bonner then combined with Hodge in a 98-run partnership for the third wicket which fuelled the innings. Right-handed Bonner struck two fours and two sixes in facing 97 deliveries while Hodge, also a right-hander, carved out five fours in a 107-ball knock.
Deyal claimed both batsmen six overs apart as the innings declined.
Marooners stumbled at the start of their run chase, losing Deyal for 11 at 19 for one in the fifth over, but Mohan anchored two stands to put the students in control.
The 21-year-old put on 38 for the second wicket with Anthony Alleyne (19) and a further 71 for the third wicket with captain Chadwick Walton, whose 39 came from 49 balls and included a four and a six.
Mohan stroked seven fours in an innings requiring 96 deliveries.
Walton and Hinds (6) fell in quick succession to leave Marooners on 146 for four but they rallied through a 37-run, fifth wicket partnership between Mohan and Cassius Burton who made 23.