Cricket West Indies Academy struggled with their batting once again as pacers Tom Mayes and Liam McCarthy dismantled their line-up, allowing hosts Emerging Ireland to secure a substantial first-innings lead in their first-class match on Wednesday.
A handful of batsmen for the Caribbean side, led by captain Nyeem Young with a top score of 48 not out, managed to get starts, but none were able to convert these into substantial scores. As a result, the visitors were bowled out for 214 in their first innings on the second day of the four-day match at The Green, conceding a lead of 69 runs.
Young and fellow Barbadian pacer Johann Layne provided early breakthroughs in Emerging Ireland’s second innings, but an unbroken second-wicket stand between opener Christopher De Freitas, who remained not out on 23, and his captain Stephen Doheny, unbeaten on 28, carried the hosts to 65 for two at the close, extending their overall lead to 134.
CWI Academy started the day positively when Young got opener James McCollum caught in the slips for six in the fourth over, and Layne trapped Gavin Roulston lbw for two in the next over, leaving the home team wobbling on 15 for two.
Doheny steadied the innings alongside De Freitas
However, Doheny steadied the innings alongside De Freitas, putting on a partnership of exactly 50 runs before stumps were drawn, leaving the match poised at an interesting stage.
Earlier in the day, CWI Academy resumed at 18 without loss after using most of the morning session to complete the demolition of Emerging Ireland’s first innings for 283. The Caribbean side scored freely between lunch and tea but paid the price for their aggressive approach, finding themselves at 136 for six at the break.
The visitors did not last an hour after tea before being bowled out, with left-arm spinner Humphreys, returning from medical attention for a finger injury, taking the last two wickets.
Opener Kadeem Alleyne scored 47, Jordan Johnson added 33, and Joshua Bishop contributed 28 for CWI Academy. However, Mayes finished with impressive figures of four for 61 from 11.4 overs and McCarthy with three for 62 from 10 overs, severely undermining the visitors’ batting efforts.
McKenny Clarke also played a crucial role
Sunny conditions at the start of the day suggested a full day’s play, but CWI Academy failed to capitalize on key moments to put themselves in a stronger position. Emerging Ireland, continuing from their overnight total of 219 for six, were bolstered by the pairing of Morgan Topping, who remained not out on 45, and Tom Mayes.
Young picked up two of the last three wickets to finish with three for 73 from 23.3 overs. McKenny Clarke also played a crucial role, trapping Mayes lbw for 42 after a seventh-wicket partnership of 71 with Topping that thwarted the CWI Academy bowlers. Young then cleaned up the tail, bowling McCarthy for seven and trapping Matthew Foster lbw for six.
The series is part of a reciprocal agreement between Cricket Ireland and CWI, following Emerging Ireland’s visit to the Caribbean in November-December last year.
