BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Nkrumah Bonner and Jahmar Hamilton struck half-centuries to weather a robust Barbados Pride start and stabilise Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the opening day of the first round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship.

Choosing to bat first at Warner Park, Hurricanes recovered from a precarious position of 39 for three to reach the close on 210 for five, with Bonner unbeaten on 71 and Hamilton scoring 65.

English County pro, Chesney Hughes chipped in with 31 while captain Kieran Powell made 26.

Captain Kevin Stoute was the leading bowler, snaring three for 24 in a superb spell of right-arm seam.

In fact, it was he who rocked the hosts early on, removing top order batsman Montcin Hodge for eight and also accounting for opener Powell.

Fast bowler Justin Greaves got the early breakthrough when he trapped West Indies Under-19 star Kacey Carty lbw without scoring in the seventh over, and Powell and Hodge added 26 before the latter was lbw to Stoute at 38 for two.

Twelve balls later with one run added, Powell pulled Stoute to Kenroy Williams at midwicket after facing 57 deliveries and striking five fours, as Hurricanes went to lunch at 40 for no further loss.

Bonner then anchored two crucial partnerships to deny Pride any major success for the remaining two sessions.

The right-handed Jamaican put on 53 for the fourth wicket with Hughes before adding a further 112 for the fifth wicket with Hamilton.

All told, Bonner has struck seven fours in a knock lasting 205 balls and just over 4 1/4 hours.

The left-handed Hughes, who until this year played for Derbyshire in the English County Championship, spent nearly an hour-and-a-half at the crease and faced 48 balls while stroking five fours.

Hurricanes made it safely through a slow second session to be 81 for three at the break before Hughes finally perished in the fourth over following the resumption, bowled by West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, playing back.

Any hopes Pride had of running through the Hurricanes middle order were quickly dashed, however, as Hamilton joined Bonner in an enterprising partnership.

Hamilton, who recently returned from a successful West Indies A tour of Sri Lanka, struck eight fours and two sixes in an innings lasting 129 balls and 143 minutes.

His demise came six overs before the close when Stoute returned to have him caught at midwicket.