Early breakthroughs not enough, CWI Academy lags behind emerging Ireland

The West Indies Cricket Academy once again struggled with the batting as bowlers Tom Mayers and Liam McCarthy unravelled their line-up to hand hosts Emerging Ireland a first-innings lead in their first-class match on Wednesday.

The Caribbean team, led by captain Nyeem Young, had several batsmen who top-scored 48 but no one could convert that into a respectable score. As a result, the visitors were bowled out for 214 in the first innings, 69 runs ahead, on the second day of the four-day match at the Greenfield Stadium.

Young Barbadian bowler Johann Layne made the breakthrough early in the emerging Irish side’s second innings but opening bowler Christopher De Freitas remained unbeaten on 23 and captain Stephen Doheny on 28 to give the hosts 65 for 2 at the close of the match, extending their overall lead to 134 runs.

CWI Academy started the day well, with Young getting opening batsman James McCollum caught for six runs in the fourth over, while Ryan got Gavin Roulston caught out on a leg-cut for two runs in the next over, leaving the home side rocking 15-2.

Doheny and De Freitas stabilized the situation together

However, Doheny and De Freitas stabilized the situation together, and the two cooperated to score a full 50 points before the end of the game, which entered an interesting stage.

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Earlier in the day, the CWI Academy team used much of the morning to thoroughly demolish the Emerging Ireland first innings for 283 before going on to win 18-0. The Caribbean side scored freely between lunch and tea, but they paid the price for their aggressive style of play, as they were 136-6 at half-time.

After tea, the visitors were bowled out before they lasted an hour, with left-arm spin bowler Humphries, fresh from treatment for a finger injury, taking the final two wickets.

Opener Kadeem Alleyne scored 47, Jordan Johnson 33 and Joshua Bishop 28 for CWI Academy. However, Mayes finished with figures of 4-61 in 11.4 innings and McCarthy with 3-62 in 10 innings severely dented the visitors’ batting efforts.

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McKennie Clark also played a key role

The day started with fine weather which boded well for a full day of action, but CWI Academy failed to capitalise on crucial moments to put themselves in a stronger position. Emerging Ireland continued their run of 219 runs from last night, with Morgan Topping remaining unbeaten on 45 and Tom Mayes leading the way.

Young took two of the last three overs to finish with 73 for three in 23.3 overs. McKennie Clark also played a key role, trapping Mayes at the leg side for 42 after partnering Toppin for 71 in the seventh over to frustrate the CWI Academy bowlers. Young then cleaned up the tail, bowling McCarthy for seven and trapping Matthew Foster at the leg side for six.

The series forms part of a reciprocal agreement between Cricket Ireland and the CWI and follows the Emerging Ireland team’s tour of the Caribbean in November-December last year.