CGI Maple’s batsmen restricted title contenders ICBL Empire to just two bowling points, occupying the crease for the entire first day after being invited to bat in fine weather on a slow pitch.
Front-runners Maple, anchored by a battling unbeaten half century from wicketkeeper/ batsman Collis Worrell, closed on 193 for six off 75 overs.
Worrell, batting at No.6, shared an aggressive fifth-wicket stand with fellow left-hander John Campbell to stabilize the visitors who had slipped to 88 for four shortly after tea.
He has so far been at the crease for 153 minutes, facing 107 balls and stroking six threes and a couple of fours. He brought up his second 50 of the season off the 82nd ball he received by despatching a full toss from Tennyson Roach to the midwicket boundary.
Jamaican Campbell, a former West Indies Under-19 opening bat and presently enrolled at the Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC), enjoyed one of his better knocks in local competition as he and Worrell took the attack to the bowlers during the 18 overs they were together.
His 90-minute, 68-ball knock included five threes and one four.
Pacer Roach had earlier drawn first blood for the visitors when he had in-form, veteran opening bat Pedro Agard caught in the slips off the first delivery of the fifth over.
Shane Parris and No.3 Jed Yearwood took the total to 45 before Parris departed for 21, while captain Renaldo Parris helped Yearwood put on a further 35 for the third wicket before the latter lifted a simple catch to Roach at mid off to give Alcindo Holder (2-30) his first wicket.
Yearwood’s dogged, almost two-hour vigil yielded 35 runs as Maple took tea at 88 for three.
Roach (2-24) struck again in the first over of a new spell, removing Parris to a catch at the wicket for 21 without addition to the tea time total, to bring Worrell and Campbell together for their crucial partnership.
