Tevyn Walcott scored an unbeaten 87, while Bryan Charles and Terrance Hinds took four wickets each as the Windward Islands Volcanoes and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force played out an even day of the opening match of the 2023 CWI West Indies Championship at the St. Grenada.
Red Force won the toss and elected to bowl first on a sunny first day. Their resolve paid off early as Terrance Hinds removed former West Indies U-19 captain Kimani Melius for just four in the third over.
Hinds claimed his second victim just two overs later, removing Kavem Hodge caught behind for a duck.
Captain Alick Athanaze then joined Jerlani Robinson at the crease and the pair put on 28 runs before Robinson was dismissed by Tion Webster for a patient 14 off 40 balls.
This brought the experienced Sunil Ambris to the crease and he and Athanaze put on 54 for the fourth wicket before Athanaze was dismissed just after lunch for 40.
Barbadian all-rounder Justin Greaves was next up but quickly went for five to see the Volcanoes recover to 113-5, bringing Walcott into the middle to join Ambris.
Ambris, who has played six Tests and 16 ODIs for the West Indies, reached 55, 15.th First-class fifty, before falling to Hinds to dismiss Windwards 130-6.
Walcott and Ryan John then combined to fight back against the Red Force bowling, putting on 98 for the seventh wicket before their resistance ended when John was dismissed caught off the bowling of Bryan Charles for 36.
The score quickly became 229-8 when Charles dismissed Kenneth Dember for a duck, making 100.th First class box.
Walcott provided a couple of late strikes before Preston McSween and Darius Martin were both sent off without troubling the scorers.
In the end, the Volcanoes were bowled out for 243 with Walcott not out on 87, his third first-class fifty and highest.
Bryan Charles led the way with the ball, taking 4-46 from 17.1 overs, while Terrance Hinds took 4-72 from 13 overs.
With Red Force debutant Vikash Mohan unable to open due to injury, Khary Pierre joined regular opener Jeremy Solozano at the top of the order.
The move didn’t work as pinch runner Darius Martin dismissed Pierre for a duck in the second over.
Captain Darren Bravo and Solozano ensured the Red Force went to the end of the day without further loss of wickets, finishing 50-1 from 21 overs, trailing by 193 runs.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes: 243 all out in 63.1 overs (Tevyn Walcott 87*, Sunil Ambris 55, Terrance Hinds 4-72, Bryan Charles 4-46) Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: 50-1 (Darren Bravo 32* Solozano 18*)
