PORT OF SPAIN, CANA -
LEEWARD Islands, under the inspired leadership of Stuart Williams, were in a strong position after gaining first innings lead over the West Indies B team on the opening day of their fifth round Busta Cup match at Guaracara Park yesterday.
After skittling out the Windies B for a paltry 140, the Leewards closed in a healthy position of 176 for three with Alex Adams not out 30 and Omari Banks, yet to score.
Kittitian opener Junie Mitchum, who made a polished 81 and 23-year-old pacer Ricky Christopher, with his second five-wicket haul of this year's tournament shared the honours for the Leewards.
Christopher wreaked havoc with the regional youngsters with an impressive bowling display in which he captured five wickets for 32 runs in 9.1 overs.
The strongly-built Christopher, who now has 21 wickets, was well supported by experienced medium pacer Carl Tuckett.
Tuckett bagged three for 36 as only Dave Bernard, with a fighting 33 in 91 minutes, offered resistance to the four-man Leewards' pace attack.
Mitchum and his captain Williams, who made 39 laid the foundation for a huge lead with an opening stand of 96 in 72 minutes after going to tea on 55 without loss at tea.
Williams was the first of two victims for young pacer Jermaine Lawson, when he was caught by Narsingh Deonarine at backward square leg.
Runako Morton joined Mitchum but soon went lbw to Lawson for seven with the score on 114 for two. Lawson ended with two for 57 off 12 overs.
Afterwards, Mitchum, who struck 10 fours in his three-hour knock off 122 balls, and Adams shared a third-wicket stand of 60 runs in 78 minutes.
Mitchum fell with only three overs left in the day's play, hitting a return catch to left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn as he tried to hit the bowler over the top.
SCOREBOARD
West Indies B first innings
A. Gonsalves lbw Christopher 13
K. Wilkinson c Morton b Christopher 7
N. Deonarine b Christopher 2
D. Bernard b Tuckett 33
T. Willett c Tuckett b Christopher 7
R. Richardson c Morton b Jeremy 13
W. Phillip c Jeremy b Tuckett 10
S. Benn c Mitchum b Tuckett 13
K. Peters not out 13
R. Sooklal c Morton b Prince 2
J. Lawson c S. Williams b Christopher 16
Extras (lb9, nb2) 11
Total (all out, 40.1 overs) 140
Fall: 1-21, 2-22, 3-23, 4-53, 5-80, 6-82, 7-95, 8-114, 9-119.
Bowling: Prince 11-1-43-1, Christopher 9.1-1-32-5, Jeremy 9-2-20-1, Tuckett 11-3-36-3 (nb2).
Leeward Islands' 1st innings
S. Williams c Deonarine b Lawson 39
J. Mitchum c&b Benn 81
R. Morton lbw Lawson 7
A. Adams not out 30
O. Banks not out 0
Extras (b11, lb2, nb6) 19
Total (for three wickets, 47 overs) 176
Fall: 1-96, 2-114, 3-174.
Bowling: Lawson 12-1-57-2 (nb2), Peters 10-2-23-0, Benn 13-2-51-1 (nb3), Sooklal 12-1-32-0 (nb1).
