Left-arm spinner Kemar Stanford showcased his batting skills with a maiden century for Lords in the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) 2017 Intermediate final against Alexandra at Bayfield yesterday.
His efforts with bat and ball put the St Lucy side in a good position to defeat school team Alexandra and clinch the Intermediate title after already being assured of promotion to the BCA’s Division 1 competition.
Right-hander Stanford made 101 in Lords’ total of 282, replying to Alexandra’s modest first innings score of 159, to give his team a lead of 123.
He returned to grab two wickets as Alexandra ended the third and penultimate day on 65 for three off 20 overs in their second innings, still needing 58 runs with seven wickets in hand to avoid an innings defeat.
Tall right-hander Limar Pierce batted enterprisingly for Alexandra to be exactly 50 not out. He has so far struck three fours and a six off 58 balls in 75 minutes and will be looking to make a century on today’s last day.
Earlier, the 29-year-old Stanford, who normally bats in the lower order but opened the innings, resumed from his overweek 66 with Lords on 171 for three, and completed his first BCA century.
He struck six fours and a six in his knock off 224 balls in 262 minutes before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Dario Greaves, Alexandra’s best bowler with five for 75 off 38 overs.
Greaves also trapped Stanford’s older brother Khalid Springer leg before wicket for 11 before removing Junior Collymore for a duck and Kemar Goddard to complete his five-wicket haul.
Off-spinner Rashad Mayers supported with three for 49, bowling left-hander Stefan Hinds for 28 and last man Nicholas Benn for six while also trapping old-stager Jeffrey Bend in front for eight.
Batting a second time, Alexandra ran into early trouble when Stanford, sharing the new ball with Springer, bowled opener and wicketkeeper Darren Alleyne with his first delivery.
Six-footer Pierce roughed up the bowlers but, at the other end, Mayers fell to Stanford for five and coach/player Renaldo Parris made three before he flicked a full-toss from slow bowler Nicholas Benn straight to Hinds at a short mid-wicket. (EZS)
