Beaton triggers Volcanoes collapse with five-wicket haul

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton snared his first-ever five-wicket haul in first class cricket to engineer a Windward Islands Volcanoes collapse on the opening day of their eighth round contest  here yesterday.

The 23-year-old, in his 32nd first class game, finished with five for 43 as Volcanoes, sent in at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium, were dismissed for 216 in the final session.

Leaders and title-holders Guyana Jaguars then cruised to 34 without loss but lost two quick wickets near the close to end on 44 for two.

Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 20.

Veteran opener Devon Smith had earlier gathered his 51st first class half-century when he top-scored with 87 while rookie Jerlani Robinson chipped in with 57.

The pair were the only batsmen to get into the 20s, however, and it told the latter half of the Volcanoes innings.

Opener Tyrone Theophile fell cheaply to Beaton for one with the score on 16 but Smith and Robinson then posted 120 for the second wicket to put Volcanoes in the driver’s seat.

Smith stroked 11 fours off 190 deliveries in nearly 3-3/4 hours while Robinson faced 82 balls in 143 minutes and struck nine fours and a six.

Their enterprise allowed Volcanoes to head to lunch at 68 for one, with Smith on exactly 50 and Robinson on 13.

They added a further 68 after the break before being separated when Robinson was caught at slip by captain Leon Johnson off left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer.

Smith added another 28 for the third wicket with Dalton Polius (9) but once Polius was bowled by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo at 164 for three, the last seven wickets went down for just 48 runs.