Centuries from Barbados Pride skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and the outstanding Kevin Wickham drove their side to an impressive first innings lead over the Jamaica Scorpions in their second-round match in the West Indies Championships, which seems destined for a draw.
Brathwaite crafted a patient 176 – his 34th first-class hundred – while Wickham scored 105, his third successive ton of the tournament, to carry the Pride to 460 for five in response to the Scorpions’ first innings total of 457.
The commanding display with the bat was largely due to a superb batting performance by their top order.
Resuming the day on 125 for one following Monday’s rain-shortened second day Brathwaite and Drakes extended their partnership for the second wicket to 77 runs to leave them comfortably placed at 182 for one.
However, shortly after scoring a half century, Drakes was dismissed by leg spinner Abhijai Mansingh for 55 off 66 deliveries.
His dismissal brought the in-form Wickham to the crease, fresh from his outstanding start to the tournament that saw him record scores of 153 and 108 not out in their opening round loss to the Scorpions.
The two shared a 195-run stand for the third wicket that put the Pride on track to chase down the Scorpion’s competitive first innings total.
Brathwaite, who started the day on 51, got to his century first by driving fast bowler Marquino Mindley past mid-on for four shortly after lunch off the 200th delivery he faced.
Wickham then created more history by flicking off spinner Peat Salmon to the fine leg boundary to bring up his century off 166 balls and complete one of the most impressive starts in the tournament.
Salmon had the last laugh though, when he had Wickham caught after facing 181 balls and hitting 11 fours and one six, to leave the score 377 for three.
Roston Chase, playing his first match of the competition, only scored 16 before he too was dismissed by Salmon with the score on 405.
Brathwaite continued to spearhead the Pride’s fightback and seemed on course for another double century until Salmon bowled him to bring his marathon innings that spanned 343 balls and contained 19 fours and one six to a close.
Kyle Mayers and Leniko Boucher ensured there would be no middle order collapse, with both playing cautious innings to carry the Pride to a slim first innings lead of three before the end of play.
Mayers is unbeaten on 16 off 69 balls, while Boucher is 12 not out.
Salmon led the Scorpion’s bowling attack to end the day with 4-100.