Edwards guides Volcanoes to maiden win

February 09, 2018 in Sports

Former West Indies v ice- c aptain Kirk Edwards stroked a half-century to guide Windward Islands Volcanoes to their first win of the Regional Super50 here Wednesday night.

Asked by English County Hampshire to chase a modest 201 for victory in the day-night contest at Kensington Oval, Volcanoes reached their target in the 37th over with Edwards finishing unbeaten on 71.

West Indies Twenty20 star Andre Fletcher slammed 53, while former Windies speedster Fidel Edwards claimed three for 52.

Opting to bat first earlier, Hampshire could only muster 200 all out in the 49th over, with James Adams top-scoring with 83.

Wicketkeeper Lewis McManus chimed in with 28, Bradley Taylor got 24, while Asher Hart scored 21.

Former Test off-spinner Shane Shillingford, adjudged man of the match, finished with four for 32, while Windies limited-overs seamer Kesrick Williams (2-39) and left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge (2-42) picked up two wickets apiece.

Hampshire recovered well after losing Tom Alsop to the second ball of the match without a run on the board, while Adams anchored three small stands to steady the innings.

He put on 41 for the second wicket with Joe Weatherley (8), 36 for the third wicket with Sean Ervine (8), before adding a further 38 for the fourth wicket with McManus.

All told, Adams counted 11 fours and two sixes in an attractive 75-ball knock.

Once he departed in the 23rd over, however, the innings declined steadily with the last seven wickets falling for 85 runs.

Hampshire could have capitulated below the 200-run mark had it not been for a brave 41-run eighth-wicket stand between Taylor and Hart.

In reply, Volcanoes were stumbling on 35 for two in the fifth over after Fidel Edwards blasted out openers Devon Smith (14) and Johnson Charles (13) cheaply.

But Kirk Edwards came to the party putting on 94 off 83 deliveries with Fletcher in an up-tempo third- wicket partnership.

The 33-year-old Edwards faced 91 balls and struck eight fours and a six, while Fletcher also belted eight fours and a six in a hasty 55-ball knock.

Fletcher became Edwards’ third victim in the 21st over, but Edwards remained immovable, adding 32 with Roland Cato (17) to put his side over the line.

SCOREBOARD
HAMPSHIRE
T Alsop c Edward b Johnson 0
J Weatherley st Fletcher b Shillingford 8
*J Adams c Edwards b Williams 83
S Ervine c Mayers b Shillingford 8
+L McManus c Edwards b Shillingford 28
F Organ c Edwards b Williams 0
B Taylor c Shillingford b Hodge 24
G Berg b Shillingford 2
A Hart c and b Hodge 21
C Wood not out 9
F Edwards c Fletcher b Mayers 5
Extras (lb2, w7, nb3) 12

TOTAL (all out, 48.2 overs) 200
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-41, 3-77, 4-115, 5-117, 6-140, 7-142, 8-183, 9-188, 10-200.
Bowling: Johnson 6-0-27-1, Hodge 10-1-42-2, Shillingford 10-1-32-4, Mayers 5.5-0-29-1, Williams 6.3-1-39-2, Edward 10-0-29-0.

VOLCANOES
D Smith b Edwards 14
J Charles c Adams b Edwards 13
+A Fletcher c Weatherley b Edwards 53
K Edwards not out 71
K Hodge b Wood 11
R Cato not out 17
Extras (b2, lb7, w15, nb1) 25

TOTAL (4 wkts, 36.2 overs) 204
Did not bat: K Mayers, D Johnson, K Williams, L Edward, *S Shillingford.
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-35, 3-129, 4-161.
Bowling: Edwards 7-0-52-3, Wood 10-1-30-1, Hart 5-0-40-0, Berg 6.2-0-36-0, Weatherley 3-0-18-0, Taylor 5-0-19-0.

Result: Volcanoes won by six wickets.
Man of the Match: Shane Shillingford.
Toss: Hampshire
Umpires: S Crawford, J Blades