THE VALLEY, CANA:
THE Leeward Islands scored at a run-a-minute in their second innings after a Mark Alleyne century for England A held up their victory bid on the third day of their seventh round Busta Cup match at the Ronald Webster Park yesterday.
At stumps, the Leeward Islands, 71 runs ahead of England A on first innings, were 107 for two in their second innings - 178 runs ahead - with Junie Mitchum not out on 41.
Alleyne earlier belted his tournament best 139 to push the England reserves to 331 all out, as they responded to the Leewards' imposing first innings score of 402.
Sylvester Joseph, back last week from the West Indies tour of Australia, fueled the Leewards' late afternoon rush with 61 off 80 balls with seven fours.
He survived three chances including two dropped catches - at six and 45 - and a missed stumping chance, but played boldly with Mitchum to post 104 for the second wicket.
Joseph was trapped leg before just before the close attempting to pull Chris Schofield.
Alex Adams, who opened in the absence of injured Stuart Williams, had fallen for two with just three runs on the board, caught by Alleyne at second slip off pacer Chris Silverwood.
England A, 119 for three overnight, played cautiously in the morning session, only losing Ian Bell (31) to a fine diving catch by Mitchum at point off seamer Wilden Cornwall at 187 for four.
Alleyne, who shared in an 84-run fourth wicket stand with Bell, achieved his 50 in 113 minutes off 94 balls with six fours and England A went to lunch at 211 for four.
But pacer Ricky Christopher captured three wickets in the post-lunch session to keep the Leeward Islands in command.
Alleyne, with his best effort of the season so far, got to his hundred off 147 balls with 12 fours, while Christopher removed Schofield (14), Graeme Swann (13) and Alex Tudor (2) to stall their advance in the session.
England A also lost James Foster (10) to Kerry Jeremy just after the break.
From 316 for eight at tea, the touring side folded 25 runs later as seamer Carl Tuckett wrapped up the tail - Silverwood (14) and Alleyne, last out, caught by substitute Davon Williams at deep mid-on.
Alleyne struck 15 fours in a 193-ball knock that lasted 295 minutes and the Leewards' bowling was led by Christopher (3-68), Tuckett (2-32), Goldwyn Prince (2-60), and Cornwall (2-80).
SCOREBOARD
Leewards 1st innings 402
England A 1st innings
(overnight 119 for 3)
I. Ward c Adams b Prince 16
M. Powell c Adams b Cornwall 17
J. Crawley lbw Prince 51
I. Bell c Mitchum Cornwall 31
M. Alleyne c D Williams b Tuckett 139
J. Foster c Adams b Jeremy 10
C. Schofield c wkp Jacobs b Christopher 14
G. Swann c wkp Jacobs Christopher 13
A. Tudor c wkp Jacobs b Christopher 2
C. Silverwood c Cornwall b Tuckett 14
J. Lewis not out 1
Extras (b4, lb8, nb11) 23
Total (all out)331
Fall: 1-21, 2-66, 3-103, 4-187, 5-229, 6-254, 7-281, 8-288, 9-320
Bowling: Prince 22-3-60-2 (1nb); Christopher 23-2-68-3; Jeremy 21-3-59-1 (2nb); Cornwall 18-3-80-2 (5nb); Tuckett 10.2-2-32-2 (3nb); Banks 11-2-20-0.
Leeward Islands 2nd innings:
J. Mitchum not out 41
A. Adams c Alleyne b Silverwood 2
S. Joseph lbw Schofield 61
Extras (lb2, b1) 3
Total (for 2 wickets) 107
Fall: 1-3 2-107
Bowling: Silverwood 6-1-15-1; Tudor 6-0-23-0; Schofield 10.3-3-32-1; Lewis 8-2-25-0; Swann 2-0-9-0.
