ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — A majestic, maiden, first-class double hundred from opener Kirk McKenzie, and a composed, maiden, first-class hundred from Kevin Wickham led dominant West Indies Academy’s batting against Team Weekes in the second match of the Headley Weekes Tri-Series on Friday in Antigua.

McKenzie was undefeated on 209 and Wickham was unbeaten on 104, and the Academy reached 378 for four in reply to the Team Weekes first-innings total of 401 at the close on the third day of the four-day, first class match at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Left-hander McKenzie reached his milestone from 340 balls when he slapped a delivery from Test left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul through cover for his 25th four, and Wickham reached his landmark soon after from 196 balls with a languid, lofted drive over long-off for six off the same bowler.

McKenzie, 22, who made his first class debut last year for Jamaica Scorpions, cracked 25 fours and one six from 365 balls and was a model of concentration during his seven hours and 40 minutes stay in the middle.

Wickham, 20, who made his first class debut for Barbados Pride coincidentally against a Scorpions line-up that included McKenzie this past February at this same venue, has struck only eight fours and one six from 223 balls but was a reliable ally in 4 1/4 hours at the crease.

The former West Indies Under-19 pair hardly put a foot wrong after they came together in the second hour of the day when Kevlon Anderson and Tevin Imlach fell to their Guyana Harpy Eagles off-spin bowling teammate Kevin Sinclair in the span 10 balls, and Team Weekes were 149 for four.

McKenzie and Wickham batted for the rest of the day, sharing 229 unbroken for the fifth wicket and enabling the Academy to make enough progress to feel confident in taking the inaugural Tri-Series title after last week’s defeat of Team Headley.

SCOREBOARD

TEAM WEEKES 1st Innings 401

WI ACADEMY 1st Innings

(overnight 89-2)

K Simmons b McAllister 7

K McKenzie not out 209

A Auguste b Mc Allister 21

K Anderson c McCaskie b

Sinclair 26

+T Imlach c King b Sinclair 0

K Wickham not out 104

Extras (b7, lb2, w1, nb1) 11

TOTAL (4 wkts, 121 overs) 378

*N Young, J Bishop, A Nedd, R

Simmonds, M Clarke to bat

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-59,

3-140, 4-142.

Bowling: Smith 20-6-49-0 (nb1);

Drakes 22-5-65-0; McAllister

15-1-69-2 (w1); Sinclair 21-

2-71-2; Permaul 35-5-99-0;

Athanaze 8-1-16-0

Position: WI Academy trail by

23, with six first-innings wickets

standing.

Umpires: N Duguid, L Reifer

Match referee: S Proverbs