Smith's unbeaten 'double' puts Windwards in command

Smith’s unbeaten ‘double’ puts Windwards in command

Jan 11, 2009 Sports

By Sean Devers
in Grenada
In association with Mike’s Pharmacy & Trophy Stall

Daren Sammy savagely cuts Veerasammy Permaul (2nd right) for one of his eight boundaries in his 57 to give the Windwards first innings points against Guyana yesterday (Sean Devers photo)

A magnificent unbeaten 201 from Test left-hander Devon Smith gave the Windwards Islands a 205-run first innings lead against Guyana on the second day of their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional first-class four-day cricket tournament at the National Stadium in Grenada yesterday.
Smith, who reached his fifty and hundred with sixes, stroked 18 fours and four sixes from 305 balls and 388 minutes in his 14th first-class hundred and 10th at regional level and shared in half-century partnership with Darren Sammy (57), Skipper Rawle Lewis (26) and Shane Shilling ford (26*) as the Windwards reached 377-7 by the close in reply to Guyana’s 172.
The 27-year-old Smith, who has played 24 Tests since his debut in Guyana in 2003, bettered his previous first-class score of 181 and joined Junior Murray as the only Windwards’ batsman to score a regional first-class double century as he registered the 36th double hundred since sponsored regional first-class cricket began in 1966.

Devon Smith smashes left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (centre) for a massive six to reach his 10th regional first-class century at the National Stadium in Grenada yesterday (Sean Devers photo)

Leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo toiled for 28 overs to finish with 3-89 to end the day as the best of the Guyana bowlers on a good track for batting. On another day blessed with glorious sunshine, the hosts resumed on 20 without loss and quickly lost Miles Bascombe (16) at 37-1. Having smashed Esuan Crandon over mid-off for four, Bascombe edged the next delivery to Krishna Arjune at first slip to make way for the arrival of debutant left-hander Garvin Roberts.
Roberts, watched by his mother who is a Government Minister, joined fellow Grenadian Smith and the pair took the Windwards to 63 before Roberts clipped Bess to short leg where Shemroy Barrington held a sharp catch to remove Roberts for three.
Liam Sebastian and Smith joined forces as Bess produced good pace on a flat track and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul bowled impressively from the other end.
Deonarine replaced Bess from the Northern end and Smith lofted him for a straight six to reach his 50 from 100 balls and 90 minutes with six fours and a six.
Sebastian, along with Smith and Andre Fletcher (left out of the team because he did not play in the Windward Islands tournament in Dominica) scored tons for the Windwards last year. Yesterday Sebastian played positively before he was lbw to Deonarine for 21 at 113-3.
Smith played some delightful shots and by lunch was 19 short of his ton. Sammy (17) was with him with the Windwards 27 away from first innings points on 146-3.
A total 126 runs were scored in the first session for 30 overs as the Windwards capitalized on a period of loose cricket from the Guyanese just before the interval.
Sammy upped the tempo after lunch and savagely cut Permaul to the point boundary to give the Islanders, who took first innings points from the Guyanese in their last meeting last year at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, first innings lead.
Smith soon became the only Windwards batsman to score 10 regional first class hundreds when he disdainfully dumped Permaul for a massive straight six. His century came up from 168 balls, 194 minutes and was decorated with 11 fours and two sixes.
The fourth wicket partnership prospered as Smith and Sammy batted attractively with Sammy, the only St Lucian to play Test cricket, reaching his fifty from 58 balls, 72 minutes with eight fours, with consecutive boundaries off Permaul as the Windwards took control of the game.
Bishoo struck in his first over of a new spell when he trapped Sammy lbw for 57 from 61 balls, 75 minutes with eight fours to end the 95-run partnership.
Lewis, who has scored both of his two first-class centuries against Guyana, joined the well entrenched Smith as a good size weekend crowd, also entertained by pounding music in between the overs, provided an energized atmosphere in sweltering heat.
By tea, the Windwards were 258-4 and had increased their lead to 86 with Smith unbeaten on 132 and Lewis on 13.
After the break the home team progressed to 294 before Bishoo struck twice in the space of 13 runs to leave the score on 307-6.
After Smith reached his fourth 150-plus score at this level, Bishoo broke the 86-run fifth wicket stand when Lewis (26) cut a short ball to Deonarine at backward point while Lyndon James (3) lofted a catch to mid-off.
Guyana struck again at 310 when Deighton Butler (1) was run out and Smith was in danger of being left stranded as Shane Shillingford joined him.
Smith, who fell for 99 against Guyana in St Vincent in 2002, converted his first century against the South Americans into only the second double century recorded by a Windward Islands batsman when he stroked Leon Johnson’s leg-spin to deep cover for a double in the final over of the day.
Murray, who was present at the ground yesterday, became the only batsmen from the Windwards to score a double hundred when he made 218 against Guyana in Grenada 12 years ago.
Shillingford offered excellent support to Smith in their unfinished 67-run partnership as they Windwards posted their second consecutive 300-plus total against Guyana following the 467 they made last year at the Providence Stadium.
Meanwhile, in scores from the other two games being contested; Jamaica reached 199 for 7 at stumps in reply to the Leewards 298. Hibbert was not out 34* with O. Brown (6) at the wicket.
Barbados reached 107 for 4 at the close chasing T&T’s 264. Richards was there on 60* with Nurse 1*.