Cummins stars but Fletcher, Hodge lead Volcanoes fightback

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Fast bowler Miguel Cummins took his 100th first-class wicket in a superb five-wicket burst but Andre Fletcher countered with an entertaining half-century to lead a Windward Islands Volcanoes fightback on the on the opening day of the sixth round match against Barbados Pride here yesterday.
GOT ‘IM! Barbados Pride fast bowler Miguel Cummins celebrates the wicket of Johnson Charles on the opening day at Kensington Oval. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)
GOT ‘IM! Barbados Pride fast bowler Miguel Cummins celebrates the wicket of Johnson Charles on the opening day at Kensington Oval. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

The Barbados Pride speedster took five for 47 as Windward Islands Volcanoes, opting to bat first at Kensington Oval, were dismissed for 250 on a slow pitch which proved helpful to fast bowlers in the morning but offered some turn for the spinners as the day progressed.

With Cummins grabbing the first three wickets to fall, Volcanoes were tumbling at 46 for four in the second hour of the morning when Fletcher arrived to stroke a handsome 84 and rescue the innings.

He was joined by Kavem Hodge who gathered 53, Shane Shillingford who got a breezy 28 and Keddy Lesporis who chipped in with 22.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn supported Cummins well with three for 65.

It was a bittersweet day for the 25-year-old Cummins, however, as he later experienced pain in his right hamstring from what appeared to be severe cramp, as he ran up to bowl the second ball of his 16th over from the Joel Garner End.

He later returned to take his place in the attack but could only manage two deliveries before he left the field a second time clutching his right leg again.

It was a tough day for the Bajan bowlers as Test pacer Kemar Roach also pulled up in the first session after sending down just 19 balls. He left the field and never returned.

Nevertheless, Pride started well with Cummins doing the early damage. He had Tyrone Theophile caught at second slip by Ashley Nurse for seven in the day’s fifth over with the score on 12 before removing Johnson Charles with a lifting delivery, taken at third slip by substitute Jonathan Carter with the score on 29 for two.

Cummins then sent back Sunil Ambris without scoring off the very next delivery, caught at forward short-leg by Kyle Corbin.

When Keddy Lesporis was adjudged to have handled the ball as he attempted to use his hand to prevent a delivery from Benn from hitting the stumps, Volcanoes were in strife.

However, an enterprising 127-run, fifth wicket stand between Fletcher and Hodge helped the visitors to recover.

Fletcher stroked 16 boundaries in an innings lasting 144 balls in just under three hours at the crease while Hodge notched his maiden first class half-century, facing 185 balls in a knock spanning nearly 3-3/4 hours and counting five fours.

The partnership was broken about 25 minutes before tea when Fletcher fell to a leg-side trap, which was well set by skipper Kraigg Braithwaite for Cummins. After sending down a few wayward chest-high deliveries, Brathwaite moved the short-leg fielder deeper.

Cummins then served up a full delivery on the legs and Fletcher clipped it straight into Corbin’s hands close in.

Hodge, unbeaten on 44 at the break, eventually perished to a catch at leg slip by Carter, sweeping at off-spinner Nurse at 198 for seven, after captain Liam Sebastien had been caught at gully by Benn off Cummins for four in the sixth over after tea.

Shillingford then threw his bat, smashing two fours and three sixes in a 48-ball cameo but was one of the three last wickets of the innings which to fell to Benn.