Nedd’s all-around brilliance guides Volcanoes past Hurricanes

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Darron Nedd impressed with both bat and ball as the Windward Islands Volcanoes pulled off an impressive run chase to stun the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by two wickets in their opening round day/night fixture of the CG United Super50 Cup here on Wednesday.

Hurricanes opener Kofi James scored the first century off this year’s tournament, while Mikyle Louis and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett added half-centuries to propel the Hurricanes to a competitive 324 in 47.3 overs after they were sent in to bat at the Brian Lara Academy.

Nedd, one of three bowlers to take three wickets, then returned to slam 94 off just 56 balls and the Volcanoes overhauled their target, finishing on 325 for eight in 43.5 overs.

The Hurricanes would have been disappointed not to have scored more runs after the efforts of James, Louis and Bowen-Tuckett saw them race to 232 for two in the 30th over.

Louis made 59 off 46 balls with six fours and four sixes and shared a 125-run partnership with James for the first wicket before he was dismissed by Nedd.

James scored 103 off 87 balls, inclusive of nine fours and five sixes, and Bowen-Tuckett added 56 off 44 balls with five fours and one six.

But Nedd, along with Kenneth Dember and Shadrack Descarte, staged a late fightback to see the Volcanoes claim the last eight wickets for 102 runs, and the last six for 24 runs.

Descarte led the way with 3-43, Nedd took 3-53 and Dember 3-56.

The Volcanoes got off to a disastrous start when they lost Johann Jeremiah to the third ball of the innings without a run on the board and it seemed as if the Hurricanes were headed to victory when they reduced their opponents to 131 for five in the 23rd over.

But Nedd, along with Dillon Douglas, who scored 61 off 46 balls, reignited the chase during a partnership of 107 in 12 overs that got their team back on track.

When Nedd was bowled by Oshane Thomas six runs short of a well-deserved century, Douglas added 38 valuable runs with Keon Gaston and McKenny Clarke smashed two sixes in his whirlwind, unbeaten knock of 22 off 12 balls to see the Volcanoes to victory.

Thomas ended with 3-62, while Karima Gore took 2-41.