A TYPICALLY flamboyant century by Kevin Stoute helped consolidate an already strong position for ICBL Empire over ESAF Pickwick on the second day of their first series LIME Elite cricket match yesterday.
Stoute, not out ten overweek with Empire on 95 for three, stroked his way to 151 not out, enabling the visitors to declare their first innings on 359 for seven in 63.3 overs, a lead of 199 on first innings.
Pickwick, dismissed for 160 in their first innings, will resume on today’s last day on 71 for four, still 128 behind after losing three wickets in the space of seven deliveries just before the close. These included the Hope brothers, Kyle and Shai – who made his second “duck” of the match.
The stylish 28-year-old Stoute enjoyed a couple slices of luck, surviving chances on 64 and 90 before going on to complete three figures near the end of the first session.
His first 50 runs came off 74 deliveries while it took a further 38 balls to raise the 100-mark in 160 minutes with six fours and four sixes, mostly played with the least of effort.
He featured in a rasping sixth-wicket stand of 160 in just an hour and a half with the hard-hitting Alcindo Holder that took the game completely away from the dispirited hosts.
Holder clouted five fours and a couple of sixes in contributing 59 to the partnership which was broken when he holed out to deep midwicket to hand left-arm spinner Che Layne (4-70) his third wicket.
The declaration was made immediately after Stoute brought up 150 (150 balls, 223 minutes, 10 fours, six sixes).
