WI Academy demolish Volcanoes - Harpy Eagles in good position to defend title; Scorpions facing defeat

ST JOHN'S, Antigua:

The West Indies Academy ended this year's West Indies Championship on a high by thrashing a hapless Windward Volcanoes by 10 wickets, while defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles have one hand on the trophy after putting up a strong performance at the end of play on the second day.

Meanwhile, the Combined Campuses and Colleges are in sight of victory against the Jamaica Scorpions heading into Friday's third day of play.

At the Coolidge Cricket Ground: Led by a masterful display of fast bowling by Johann Layne, the West Indies Academy earned their first win of the competition by dismissing the Volcanoes by 10 wickets inside two days.

After conceding a first innings lead of 147 runs, the Volcanoes' batsmen folded for the second time in the match with Layne's six-wicket haul limiting them to 181.

Layne grabbed 6-30 and was on a hat-trick after dismissing captain Alick Athanaze and Noelle Leo in successive deliveries but his effort was foiled by Ryan John.

His performance had helped to reduce the Volcanoes to 78 for four, until Athanaze and Shadrack Descarte stemmed the flow of wickets in a 74-run partnership that ensured the WI Academy would have to bat again.

But once Athanaze lost his wicket to leave them 152 for five, the end came swiftly with the Volcanoes losing their remaining five wickets for just 29 runs.

Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop chipped in with 2-73.

Needing only 34 runs for victory, Ackeem Auguste then blazed an unbeaten 33 from 17 balls to propel the WI Academy to their target without any alarms.

At Queens Park Oval: Leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles took one step towards retaining their title after dominating proceedings against second-place Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

The Red Force added 23 runs to their total after resuming the day on 214 for seven, to be dismissed for 240.

Medium pacer Nial Smith took 4-49, while Kemo Paul (3-45) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (2-42) provided good support.

Raymond Perez and Kevlon Anderson then cracked half centuries to help the visitors earn crucial first innings honours, as they ended the day on 269 for five, an overall lead of 29 runs.

At Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground: The Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) are well positioned to end the tournament in winning fashion after putting themselves in a dominant position against the Jamaica Scorpions.

After gaining a healthy first innings lead of 194, CCC reduced the Scorpions to 206 for five in their second innings, a lead of only 12 runs.

They owed their position of strength to Shaqkere Parris, who scored a maiden first-class century, which helped them to pile up 327 after they resumed the day on 197 for five.

Parris made 112 from 179 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes and shared an invaluable 86-run partnership with Larry Edward for the sixth wicket.

- CMC