KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Veteran opener Devon Smith carved out his 26th first-class hundred to keep Windward Islands Volcanoes afloat after left-arm spinner Nikita Miller grabbed his 400th first-class wicket to put Jamaica Scorpions on course for victory in their ninth-round encounter here yesterday.

At the close of the penultimate day at the Arnos Vale Stadium, Volcanoes were battling on 245 for four — following on in their second innings — with the left-handed Smith unbeaten on a superb 125.

He was accompanied by rookie Kavem Hodge on 27 not out, with the pair having posted 44 for the fifth wicket and eking out a small lead of 33 for Volcanoes.

Miller picked up two for 61 to move to 401 first-class wickets in his 80th game after starting the game with 496 scalps.

He had earlier finished with three for 70 as Volcanoes, resuming their first innings on 149 for five, were dismissed for 223 on the stroke of lunch.

Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs was the main destroyer with five for 95, claiming four of the five remaining Volcanoes wickets to fall in the morning session for the addition of 74 runs.

All-rounder Kyle Mayers struck 32 off 51 balls with four fours and Hodge, 23 off 54 deliveries with three boundaries, but neither could carry on.

Forced to follow on by 212 runs, Volcanoes were propelled in their second innings by Smith who anchored two partnerships up front to silence Scorpions.

He put on 46 for the first wicket with Tyrone Theophile, who made 19 and then collaborated in a 131-run, second-wicket stand with Jerlani Robinson who hit a positive 64.

All told, Smith faced 272 deliveries in just under 4 1/2 hours at the crease and lashed eight fours.

When Theophile was bowled by part-time off-spinner John Campbell after facing 41 balls and striking two fours and a six, Robinson combined with Smith to dominate the second session and lift the hosts to 158 for one at tea.

Robinson, a right-hander in only his fourth first-class game, hit six fours off 114 balls in nearly two hours.

However, when he edged to Jermaine Blackwood at slip in the seventh over after the break to give Miller his 400th wicket, Volcanoes slumped, losing three wickets for 24 runs before Smith and Hodge stemmed the tide.

Scoreboard

SCORPIONS 1st Innings 445

VOLCANOES 1st Innings

(overnight 149 for five)

D Smith run out 26T Theophile b D Thomas 16J Robinson c McCarthy b Jacobs 31G Pope b Miller 14+S Ambris c D Thomas b Miller 50K Cottoy lbw b Jacobs 8K Hodge c Palmer b Jacobs 23*L Sebastien c Miller b Jacobs 6K Mayers c (sub) Brown b Jacobs 32M Matthew not out 10D Johnson c Blackwood b Miller 8Extras (b6, lb1, nb2) 6TOTAL (all out, 71.2 overs) 233Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-48, 3-72, 4-138, 5-146, 6-165, 7-174, 8-194, 9-215, 10-230.Bowling: Gordon 5-0-17-0, McCarthy 8-1-25-0, D Thomas 5-1-16-1 (nb1), Miller 27.2-6-70-3, Jacobs 25-3-95-5, Campbell 1-0-3-0.VOLCANOES 2nd Innings (following on)D Smith not out 125T Theophile b Campbell 19J Robinson c Blackwood b Miller 64G Pope lbw b Jacobs 4+S Ambris c Blackwood b Miller 1K Hodge not out 27Extras (b2, lb1, nb2) 5TOTAL (4 wkts, 87 overs) 245Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-177, 3-194, 4-201.Bowling: Gordon 7-1-19-0, McCarthy 10-4-29-0, Campbell 21-2-66-1, Jacobs 20-0-67-1 (nb2), Miller 29-7-61-2.Position: Volcanoes lead Scorpions by 33 runs.Toss: Jamaica Scorpions.Umpires: Deighton Butler, Gregory Brathwaite.

D Smith run out 26

T Theophile b D Thomas 16

J Robinson c McCarthy b Jacobs 31

G Pope b Miller 14

+S Ambris c D Thomas b Miller 50

K Cottoy lbw b Jacobs 8

K Hodge c Palmer b Jacobs 23

*L Sebastien c Miller b Jacobs 6

K Mayers c (sub) Brown b Jacobs 32

M Matthew not out 10

D Johnson c Blackwood b Miller 8

Extras (b6, lb1, nb2) 6

TOTAL (all out, 71.2 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-48, 3-72, 4-138, 5-146, 6-165, 7-174, 8-194, 9-215, 10-230.

Bowling: Gordon 5-0-17-0, McCarthy 8-1-25-0, D Thomas 5-1-16-1 (nb1), Miller 27.2-6-70-3, Jacobs 25-3-95-5, Campbell 1-0-3-0.

VOLCANOES 2nd Innings (following on)

D Smith not out 125

T Theophile b Campbell 19

J Robinson c Blackwood b Miller 64

G Pope lbw b Jacobs 4

+S Ambris c Blackwood b Miller 1

K Hodge not out 27

Extras (b2, lb1, nb2) 5

TOTAL (4 wkts, 87 overs) 245

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-177, 3-194, 4-201.

Bowling: Gordon 7-1-19-0, McCarthy 10-4-29-0, Campbell 21-2-66-1, Jacobs 20-0-67-1 (nb2), Miller 29-7-61-2.

Position: Volcanoes lead Scorpions by 33 runs.

Toss: Jamaica Scorpions.

Umpires: Deighton Butler, Gregory Brathwaite.