BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter hancela@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, March 30, 2008
Carlton Baugh Jnr blasted a typically aggressive century as Melbourne's batsmen had an excellent first day against the Westmoreland Wizards at Melbourne Oval in the Jamaican Super League yesterday.
Captain Baugh smashed a cavalier 123 from 108 balls as the Kangaroos amassed a mammoth 388 all out at the close of play. Baugh, a discarded West Indies wicketkeeper, added 101 for the fifth wicket with former West Indies Youth player, Andre McCarthy (61), as the Wizards could not work their magic on the usually placid Melbourne surface.
Melbourne skipper Carlton Baugh Jnr (left) awaits a delivery during his knock of 123, while Westmoreland Wizards' wicketkeeper Cavin Spence looks on during their Jamaican Super League match at Melbourne Oval yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Melbourne quickly set about targeting a huge score when West Indies middle-order batsman Marlon Samuels (54) and Damion Henry (55) put on 75 for the second wicket, prior to Baugh's onslaught, which included 18 fours and two sixes, while middle-order batsman, Damion Jacobs (50) joined the party as well with an even half-century.
Jerome Williams (3-52) and Kenneth Beckford (3-91) were the most successful bowlers for the Westmoreland Wizards, who are yet to start their reply.
At Sabina Park, national leg-spinner, Odean Brown, bagged five for 42 for St Catherine Saints as the visitors dominated home side Kingston Tigers, in the feature match of the round.
Kingston, inserted to bat, were bowled out for 149 runs with leg-spinner Brown and skipper Tamar Lambert (3-21) ripping through the top-order. Domaine Wilson (32) and Christie Jones (20) shared in an opening stand of 53 before both fell to Brown.
The Tigers' batting then crumbled at 76 for two when Marvin Darlington (32) was caught off the bowling of Lambert.
Rain forced a two-hour stoppage, but the Tigers lasted only a half-an-hour more on the resumption, with Brown cleaning up the tail. In their reply, the St Catherine Saints reached 53-2 with Keith Hibbert (17 not out) and nightwatchman, Andre Russell (nine not out) the batsmen at the wicket.
Jowayne Robinson (2-23) is the lone wicket-taker for the Tigers so far, having bowled Junior Stewart (0) and Damion Bryce (21), both off the inside edge.
At Alpart, rain shortly after the tea interval left the St Elizabeth Sharks on 186 for six with Vinord Woolcock (64) and Shane Powell (61) chief among the runs against the Trelawny Buccaneers. Former national all-rounder, Lorenzo Ingram, has so far taken 3-40 for the Buccaneers.
At Chedwin Park, the Manchester Lions, on 131 for one, are replying strongly to the JDF Brigades' 202 all out with opener Gary Graham (79 not out) and Donovan Sinclair (13 not out) leading the charge for the mid-island men after Zeniffe Fowler fell for 36.
The JDF Brigades made three changes to the team that faced Melbourne Kangaroos last weekend, with veterans Kamal Dennis and Warren Medwynter returning.
But the Army men faltered badly and were dismissed on the stroke of the tea break, with Joseph Palmer (48) and Akhbar Moodie (34 not out) making most runs against the bowling of Neive McNally (3-29) and David Powell (3-33).