Surrey 'A' in control

- Junior Dowie

Surrey 'A' opening batsman Keith Hibbert plays a cut shot during his innings of 70 against Middlesex at Chedwin Park yesterday in their County Cricket Championship. Match

HALF CENTURIES from Renford Pinnock Jr., Keith Hibbert and a five-wicket haul by Darren Powell have put leaders Surrey 'A' in total control over Cornwall in their third round Jamaica County cricket match at Chedwin Park yesterday.

Replying to Cornwall's 83, Surrey 'A' were 244 for two at the close of the first day's play, having gained first innings points and seemingly poised to dispose of Cornwall by mid-afternoon today.

Pinnock and Hibbert featured in a 161-run opening stand as they punished Cornwall's bowlers hitting them to all parts of the Chedwin Park outfield. The two batted with confident and determination.

Left-hander Pinnock was the more aggressive of the two hitting 13 fours in his innings of 90 off 170 deliveries. Hibbert, who recently graduated from the Shell West Indies cricket academy, was more patient in his approach. He batted for 181 minutes in which he faced 134 deliveries for his 70, this including nine fours.

Hibbert was the first to go, caught by Damion Grey at bat-pad off spinner Myron Wilson. Tamar Lambert joint Pinnock and the two took the score past the 200 mark before Pinnock lost his mid-stump to Ainsley Goss at 205 for two. Not out batsmen, Lambert (43) and captain David Bernard Jr. (20) featured in two brisk innings to push their team to a competitive total.

Earlier, Cornwall won the toss and elected to bat on a good strip. However, this move backfired when Jamaica pacer Powell struck four early blows to have the visitors reeling at 25 for five. He removed Grey, leg before for nought; Chris Miller, caught wicketkeeper Hibbert without scoring, then bowled Myron Wilson for five and had Anthony Andrews caught at extra-cover for nought. Fellow pacer Kamal Dennis picked up the other wicket, Canute Ferguson, bowled for one.

Opener Dwayne Ewart, who batted for 138 minutes, hit four fours in his knock of 25, while Vinord Woollock made 13, both posting the highest partnership of the innings, 20.

Powell finished with five for 11 off 11.4 overs, including seven maidens, while Bernard Jr. claimed three for 29 from six overs.

AT MELBOURNE OVAL: Captain Robert Samuels scored his second century in as many matches to put Melborune in a strong position for first innings points against Kingston. Melbourne were 298 for nine at the close.

Samuels (101 not out) faced 120 deliveries from which he cracked 14 fours and two sixes. He received good support from Dillon Ebanks and Llewellyn Meggs (40 each), Aubrey Walloston (37) and Nikita Miller (30). Kerry Scott took 3-30, Dwight Mais 3-95 and Sadiq Phillips 2-75.

AT JAMALCO: Led by Omar Burke's four-wicket haul, Surrey 'B' seemed heading for first innings points over Middlesex.

Scores: Middlesex 175 (Tyson Gordon and Edward Llewelyn 37 each, Brenton Beckford 25; Burke 4-18, Ashuman Kentish 2-42). Surrey 'B' 105 for two (Marlon Kennedy 41, Mel Wint 35; Beckford 2-21).

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