CUL DE SAC--Damian Williams stroked a brilliant unbeaten 107 to spur St. Maarten to first innings points over Anguilla in the Leeward Islands three-day match at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark, yesterday.
After Day Two, the scores in the match read Anguilla 200 all out and 131 for four, St. Maarten 266 all out.
Williams who resumed his innings from naught and his team in a troubling position of 75 for five, hit his first century in national colours. He mixed defense with calculated aggression to slam 15 fours and three fours in his highly entertaining innings.
The centurion and Moreland Le Blanc added 41 runs to the overnight total before the latter lost concentration to poke a simple catch to mid-wicket. Le Blanc contributed 30 off 53 balls (4x4).
After the first wicket fell for the day, the visitors had more reasons to celebrate with the quick dismissal of Lerry Baptiste for naught. Immediately after those two wickets, Williams dominated a 57 run partnership with debutant Mrinal Wadhwa. The debutant was then caught and bowled for two by his Leeward Islands U19 coach, Chaka Hodge.
At 178 for eight, the home team was faced with a crisis situation to reach 200 in order to obtain first innings points. Captain David walked to the crease and immediately stamped his authority on the run chase. And with Williams looking as solid as Fort Amsterdam, the pair took the home team over the 200 runs mark and further rough-up their opponent with some telling shots.
David slammed five fours and three sixes for an explosive 52 off just 35 balls.
The main wicket takers for Anguilla were Yannick Leonard with four for 62 in 25 overs and Hodge with three for 59 off 14 overs.
With 66 runs behind, Captain of Anguilla, Lyndell Richardson started off in ultra aggressive mode. He clobbered five sixes and two fours in 35 off only 26 balls. His aggressive batting led to his downfall with the total on 46. His opening partner Jovanni Gumbs was dismissed three runs later for 10 off 31 balls. They slipped into further trouble when Kacey Carty was bowled for two to make the score 57 for three.
Chaka Hodge and Montcin Hodge then batted purposeful to hold up local Captain Kenroy David and his rampant crew. Their partnership yielded 54 runs before David trapped Hodge in front for 19 off 78 balls after numerous appeals for lbw were turned down off the same bowler.
Darryl Doram grabbed the first three wickets to fall. His outstanding bowling figures reads 15-8-21-3.
At the close of play, Anguilla were 65 runs ahead with six second innings wicket in tact. The match continues today from 10am.
