Devon Smith hits century against India ‘A’

CASTRIES: Left-handed opener Devon Smith continued to press for a West Indies pick with a century for the Windward Islands on the opening day of the team’s Carib Beer Series regional cricket match against India “A” yesterday.

The Grenadian scored 101 —- his first century of the season —- to lead the Windwards to a close of play score of 283 for six wickets after they were put in to bat by the Indian captain Vangipurappu Laxman. It was a welcome knock by Smith, who has had four half centuries so far in this year’s competition with a previous top score of 86 against Barbados. Smith, who has long been trying for a spot on the West Indies team, featured in an opening partnership of 158 with Rommel Currency that set the basis for a huge first innings score. But once the opening stand was broken, they faltered and lost four wickets for 13 runs as the middle order started to collapse. But skipper Junior Murray led the recovery with a fine undefeated half-century by the close.

Other scores:

IN GEORGETOWN: Jamaica, electing to bat against Guyana, were 236 for four at the close of the rain-affected opening day yesterday.
Rain stopped play at 11.32 a.m. and forced an early lunch. They resumed at 1.45 p.m.
Jamaica 236-4 (Brenton Parchment 95, Leon Garrick 74, Mario Ventura 33; Mahendra Nagamootoo 2-71).

IN MONTSERRAT: The Leeward Islands, replying to the West Indies “B” team’s first innings score of 191, were four without loss at the close  of the rain-affected opening day yesterday.
Seepage under the covers from early morning rain, delayed the start of play until 1.00 p.m.
West Indies “B” 191 (Carlton Baugh 61, Patrick Browne 45; Kerry  Jeremy 5-34, Gavin Tonge 3-40) vs Leewards 4-0.
(AP)