Marvin Forde smashing a boundary during his 116 for Wanderers against Banks at the Brewery. (Pictures by Charles Pitt-Grant.)

Four batsmeen recorded their first Division 1 centuries, yesterday on Day 2 of the fifth round of the Banks-sponsored competition.

A brave 116 from Marvin Forde of Wanderers dominated Banks, while Calvin Watson, the Caribbean Lumber YMPC skipper hit a stroke-filled 104 as his side gained first innings points over Cable & Wireless.

Over at Brereton, St Philip, Nekoli Parris forced the pace with 105 not out to set up a good position for Sagicor University of the West Indies; while Amory Holder also hit an unbeaten 105 as ICBL Empire dominated BRC Barbados Cricket League.

AT THE BREWERY: Forde, the tall all-rounder, led Wanderers to 366 for six and a chance to defeat the home team.

The 23-year-old, who is filling in as wicket-keeper for this match, made his breakthrough innings off 131 balls, in just over 150 minutes, displaying control and good shot selection, hardly making a rash stroke.

His innings included 15 fours and five sixes which were mainly hit over the head of the bowlers. He was equally at home against spin as he was against pace, and when the new ball was taken, he christened it with a straight drive for four off Dale Brathwaite.

Forde was eventually bowled by Winston Reid, playing what he called a "lazy shot", trying to get the ball to long-off for a single.

He and Sean Armstrong put on a fifth-wicket partnership of 105 before the former was out for 33. Larry Babb took over and scored a breezy 47, but wickets fell cheaply near the close.

For Banks, Winston Reid took three wickets for 129 off 36 overs, but was struck for 13 fours and five sixes. At the close of play, Banks had chipped into the 169-run lead and were 45 for 1.

AT BRERETON: Parris' vigilance and class placed the students in a position to force a victory. He compiled his century in 169 minutes off 118 balls with 18 fours.

The Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) resumed at 46 for one, and raced to 117 for two with Bryan Johnson reaching a half-century, and with Andre Gill (35) added 96 for the second wicket.

Once they were separated, wickets began to tumble, and the young soldiers were dismissed for 156. Shirley Clarke took five for 31, while Parris showed his versatility by snaring five victims behind the stumps. With a lead of 77, the University of the West Indies piled on the pressure and raced to 222 at the close. Dane Currency grabbed six for 96 in the onslaught. The BDFSP will have all day to make 300 for victory.

AT WILDEY: Waston, the acting captain, guided the visitors to 290 – a first innings lead of 89 over Cable & Wireless, who are 30 for one in the second innings.

YMPC were quickly in trouble at the start when the overweek batsmen Jeremy Brathwaite and Francios Hurley were caught behind, leaving the visitors reeling at 23 for four.

Watson entered at 18 for three, and together with Adrian Jones, seized the initiative with a fifth-wicket stand of 117.

Cable & Wireless did nothing to help their cause, spilling four chances during the partnership. Jones hit a robust 59 from 62 balls with six fours and two sixes, while Waston, who was dropped at 21, reached the landmark after spending 30 minutes "in the nervous 90s".

The tall right-handed Watson batted 198 minutes, faced 150 balls, and stroked 12 fours. The majority of the runs came between cover and third-man as he led from the front on a pitch tailor-made for batting.

He also added 68 with William Lashley (19), Wendell Coppin then slammed the tired attack with a quick-fire 54.

AT BANK HALL: The 19-year-old Holder gave a taste of his rich talent which pulled Empire from the brink of disaster and into a solid position over BCL.

Empire started the day in deep trouble at 74 for six, but made 266 for nine declared. BCL are 107 for five in the second innings after making 134 in the first innings.

The amazing recovery was to a seventh-wicket stand of 167 betwen Holder and all-rounder Kevin Stoute (95). Holder, a former Foundation School student, hit ten fours and eight threes in his 145-ball stay at the crease, while Stoute had three fours, 15 threes, and equalled his highest score at this level.

Holder returned to grab the first three wickets in the BCL's second innings as Empire look set to wrap up victory today.

AT TRENTS: Maple suffered a massive middle order collapse, losing their last seven wickets for 37 – including four with the score at 109, and fell for 146 – surrendering a lead of 109.

Carib Carlton have taken full control of the match as they marched to 106 for one.

After cruising at 109 for three, the hosts inexplicably lost all focus and will be in danger of defeat today. The demise was triggered by leg-spinner Nikolai Charles, who bowled with guile and erratic bounce and turn to take four for 24 from 10.4 overs. In tandem with off-spinner Marlon Graham (three for 15 off nine), he exposed Maple weakness against slow bowling.

Maple were going great guns with left-hander Jamar Griffith (37) and seasoned campainger Andy Payne (29) adding 60 for the fourth wicket, before it all fell apart.

In the evening session, Carlton's batsmen cut loose with opener Corey Clarke striking 48 not out, with five threes and four fours. Left-hander Kirk Gibson clobbered 38 with two fours and five threes and Carlton now have an overall lead of 217.

AT BAYFIELD: Dayne Maynard hit his second half-century of the match to put BNB St Catherine in a good position to push for a victory over Police.

After dismissing Police for 186, in reply to their 302 on the first day, to take a first innings lead of 116 runs, St Catherine cruised to 97 for two in their second turn at the crease, an overall lead of 213 runs, with Maynard unbeaten on 56 off 48 balls with four fours and a six.

The hard-hitting opener, who also scored his maiden Division 1 century in the second series, now has 469 runs in seven completed innings at an average of 67.

Earlier, Police captain Trevor Griffith, with a fluent 47, and Brian Corbin 30, featured in a third-wicket stand of 72 after swing bowler Ulric Batson had dismissed both openers cheaply.

Police lost their way with the dismissals of Griffith and Corbin, who handed 52-year-old spinner Glyne Strickland his first wicket at this level, but tail-ender Ryan Willoughby brought some respectability to the total with a breezy 22 not out as the last two wickets added 36 runs.

AT WATERFORD: Renaldo Holder and Adrian Maynard prevented the Guardian General Youth 'B' from following on with some dogged lower- order batting, but Pickwick were still in charge.

Pickwick, having secured a handy first innings of 111, extended their advantage to 194 with eight second innings wickets intact.

It was a strong position that could have been more commanding were it not for the sterling efforts of Holder and Maynard who frustrated the Pickwick attack with a ninth-wicket stand of 94.

The schoolboys had stumbled to 139 for eight when they came to the rescue, a long way from the follow-on target of 204. When Holder was caught down the leg-side, getting a faint edge to a ball from part-time off-spinner Ryan Arthur, they had passed harm's way with the score at 233 for nine and the Lodge School sixth former had scored a vital 61 in just under two hours.

The left-handed Maynard carried on for an unbeaten 45 that included six fours and a push over long-on for six off Ryan Austin, who finished with five for 71.

Austin, the leading off-spinner in the land, delivered his first 20 overs on the trot from the pavilion end and created problems early.

AT CANE GARDEN: Four wickets late in the day tilted the ballance for first innings honours in Super Centre Spartan's favour when Barbados Youth "A" are 206 for five in reply to 384.

The students were coasting along at 150 for one wicket before Spartan fought back with four wickets for the addition of 56 runs. Opener Roger Williams and Carlos Brathwaite were the mainstay of the innings so far, with a second-wicket partnership of 134, Williams stroking a solid 78, while Carlos Brathwaite supporting with an attacking 73.

Earlier in the day, an eighth-wicket stand of 139 between Antoine Sargeant, 91 not-out, and Andrew Layne 69, ensured Spartan a fighting first innings total of 384 after starting the day on 284 for seven.

Reporting by Mike King, Ezra Stuart, Sherylyn Clarke, Wayne Holder, Elvis Howard, Louis Holder, Evans Hinkson and Elvis Howard.