CCC crush Leewards

Ryan Austin celebrating another wicket on his way to 5-52, his second fiver in the match, which lifted CCC to a resounding victory. (Picture by Craig Cozier.)

By Craig Cozier | Sun, February 12, 2012 - 12:03 AM

Ryan Austin claimed another five-wicket haul yesterday as Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) wrapped up an innings and 15-run victory over a limp Leeward Islands side, 40 minutes after lunch on Day 2 at the Three Ws Oval.

The 30-year-old off-spinner claimed 5-52 to earn match figures of 10-71 and the Man Of The Match award.

“It looked easy but that was because the Leeward Islands batsmen did not apply themselves properly,” Austin said frankly after the presentation ceremony.

The Leeward Islands, who dug their own grave on Day 1, were only marginally better after conceding a first innings lead of 128, falling this time for 113.

That it was their highest total of the season underlined the malaise that Leeward Islands cricket currently finds itself in.

Under overcast skies, CCC stretched their overnight 158-9 to 167 before Jason Holder ran himself out for 42 trying to keep the strike.

The sun broke through and CCC quickly made hay in the morning session.

Kevin McClean struck in the fifth over, Shane Jeffers losing his off stump spectacularly.

Kieran Powell struck three fours in 22 as the Leewards passed their first innings debacle of 39 with just one wicket down.

But Austin began a dramatic collapse before lunch by claiming the aspiring West Indies left-hander, trapped lbw on the back foot.

Next over, Orlando Peters nudged to backward short leg.

Holder soon removed captain Gavin Williams for the second time in the match, this time his edge flying to Kyle Corbin at third slip.

Austin claimed his third scalp a few balls later, Tonito Willett lbw playing no stroke to one that struck him a bit high.

Steve Liburd also fell to Austin, skying a pull high to midwicket, and once Holder nailed Jahmar Hamilton lbw on the back foot, the Leewards went to lunch at 66-7 and were in danger of a third double-digit total this season.

Justin Athanaze provided a brief flurry after the break, lashing four fours and two sixes in a top score of 35 off 26 balls.

He shared an innings-high partnership of 39 with Gavin Tonge before Nkrumah Bonner’s leg-spin ended the defiance.

Tonge, on the back foot, was bowled by one that skidded through to thud into off stump and, next ball, Bonner claimed Nelson Bolan lbw, also on the back foot.

Austin fittingly sealed the win, outfoxing an advancing Athanaze by pushing one wide Chadwick Walton to claim an efficient stumping.

Austin, the leading regional wicket-taker in two of the past three seasons, took his 2012 tally to 19 in two matches.

This was his 15th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, his tenth in 29 matches for the CCC, and he completed his best-ever match haul, beating his previous ten-wicket match bag of 10-118 against Guyana in 2010.