Kevlon Anderson continued his patient batting on Day two as the West Indies Academy looked to build on their Day one 300-run score. However, Ireland skittled out the Academy’s tail for 326.
Anderson was the last man to fall for 125. Tom Mayes scalped a fifer for Emerging Ireland, he had figures of 5-64 followed by Michael Frost with 2-71
The Academy bowlers never allowed Emerging Ireland to settle as Nyeem Young peppered the Irish with his pace. Young 2-7 and McKenny Clarke had the Irish grasping for a partnership when they removed Stephen Doheny 8, James McCollum 4 and Murray Commins 0 with less than 30 on the board.
A bowling change happened, and the Irish slide intensified. Joshua Bishop and Isai Thorne picked up from Young and Clarke. The Irish had no answer for the spin of Bishop nor the raw pace of Thorne. Emerging Ireland looked bemused and down, as they were all out for 72. Cade Carmichael was their top scorer with 39 followed by Tom Mayes with 12. Bishop finished with figures of 4-18 while Thorne picked up 3-15.
West Indies Academy chose not to enforce the follow-on and went back in to bat with a 254-run lead. Ackeem Auguste who had a tough run-of-form in the series looked a different player as he produced some beautiful strokes to race to 75 off 105 balls — which included nine fours and a lofty six before he was caught off Mayes. Teddy Bishop soldiered on to add 46 off 72 balls. At the close of play the Academy were 172-4 — a lead of 426, not out are Kevin Wickham on 17 and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett on 6. Mayes leads the wickets for Emerging Ireland with 2-23.
Academy head coach Rayon Griffith was pleased with his team’s performance
“I am very pleased. I thought we came out this morning in showing the intent with the new ball. Fantastic bowling by the captain and then Thorne and Bishop came in and wrapped up their innings quickly. Then coming back into bat, I thought we did well to build on the lead we had. Auguste set the tone with his innings, and we are now in a very good position to go on to win with two days remaining.”
