SHERWIN CAMPBELL has lost none of his old touch.

At age 37 and with the benefit of more than 20 seasons of Division 1 cricket, the former West Indies vice-captain used his skill and vast experience to smash a scintillating century that helped Banks stave off defeat against CGI Maple in the opening round of matches in the 2008 season.

Against the expectations of many, the defending champions batted through the entire day without little bother after resuming on seven without loss and still trailing by 157.

They benefited from a century stand from their two young openers, Kofie Hurdle and Carlos Brathwaite, but when skipper Campbell entered the fray at No. 6 a few minutes before tea, they were still not yet out of the woods at 165 for four.

He used his first hour to help consolidate Banks' position by adding 92 for the fifth wicket with promising 18-year-old Anthony Rollins before marching to his second 50 with a volley of glorious strokes that included cuts, pulls and drives of the highest order.

Campbell made 102 off 88 balls with 14 fours and three sixes and the fact that he required only 20 balls for his second 50 underlined his complete dominance in the latter part. When he edged a catch to the keeper at 5:17 p.m. the match was called off with Banks on 326 for six.

It was somewhat of a surprise that Campbell sent little-known Rollins in at No. 5 but the former Lester Vaughan student justified the confidence with an assured 50 that came from 76 balls and included four fours and two sixes, one of which was an outstanding straight hit that was lifted onto Wildey Road against off-spinner Renaldo Parris.

The partnership between Campbell and Rollins was all the more important against the backround that Banks were batting a player short with all-rounder Dale Brathwaite absent because he was not permitted time off by his employers.

Maple were set back by the absence of key fast bowler Kemar Roach who was in Antigua with a West Indies training squad and his presence was missed.

His replacement Kirk Broome, one of six former Alexandra players in the Maple line-up, took the first wicket after Hurdle and Brathwaite added 105 for the first wicket and he also held two sharp catches close to the wicket.

Hurdle made a well-played 60 off 84 balls to complete a second half-century of the match, while Brathwaite batted responsibly for 46.

After the two openers went, the wickets of Jonathan Carter (21) and Keagan Alleyne (20) gave Maple a sniff of a chance, but Campbell had other ideas.