Empire 172 for 8 v Banks:

Middle-order batsman Roland Holder put aside the crisis facing his West Indies Players' Association to hit a solid half-century as Empire occupied the crease all day.

Holder, the WIPA secretary, scored an aggressive 79 off 128 balls, including eight boundaries.

After being bowled by a no-ball early in the innings, He capitalised on his luck to share an important second-wicket stand of 71 with the promising Kirk Sealy (21). Holder was seventh out, caught behind as he pushed at a delivery from Reid.

Reid, one of the island's most consistent bowlers, picked up another four wickets to finish with five for 40 from 25.1 overs.

From 127 for seven in the late evening, Alphonso Lashley rallied the Empire lower order for some important runs, hitting an aggressive unbeaten 35 off 60 balls as they closed at 172 for eight.

Lashley struck five boundaries in his knock, including two sixes over mid-wicket off off-spinner David Sealy.

Big B Spartan 263 for 7 v Wanderers:

Former Ellerslie schoolboy Corey Yearwood helped himself to a maiden Division 1 century as Big B Spartan put Cockspur Wanderers to the sword yesterday.

Yearwood, a 19-year-old opener, hammered 15 boundaries in scoring 110 as the visitors took advantage of a flat pitch.

Kerry Lucas hit his second consecutive half-century, reaching 53 with the help of 11 boundaries, and helping Yearwood add 111 for the second wicket. He was out when he chased a wide ball and was caught at first slip. At tea, Spartan were 143 for three, but could not maintain that momentum into the afternoon. Rowehan Walcott was unbeaten on 27.

Barbados fast-medium bowler Hendy Bryan was the pick of the Wanderers bowlers with three for 65.

Police 181 for 4 v BCL:

A boundary-studded 136-run, second-wicket partnership between the Proverbs brothers dashed any hopes the BCL might have had of capitalising on winning the toss on a damp pitch.

Police started comfortably when Feliston Gilkes and Ahmed Proverbs put on 36 before Winston Herbert bowled Gilkes for 12.

Then Ahmed and brother Stanton laid the foundation for a big score when they defied Herbert and clouted all others.

Herbert bowled 23 consecutive overs and removed them both. Ahmed was caught brilliantly at extra-cover for 53 and then Herbert trapped Stanton leg-before for 98, which included eight fours and five sixes in 150 minutes. Herbert finished with three for 48.

CHIC Schools South 143; Sports & Games YMPC 27-0:

A five-wicket haul by captain and leg-spinner Terry Rollock (five for 61), restricted the schoolboys to a modest total yesterday.

At the close of the first day, YMPC had erased 27 of those runs without any loss.

The schoolboys were off to a fair start after winning the toss on a very slow wicket, losing their first wicket at 42. By slipped to 84 for four by tea and after the break they slide.

Rollock shared the new ball with fast bowler Barry Lowe and, in 24.4 overs, ripped through the middle order.

Opener Quamie Miller topscored with 39 while useful contributions came from captain Ryan Burke (19), David Steele (18), Vonrick Nurse (15) and Kurt Wilkinson and Justin Pounder, 10 each.

BNB St. Catherine 217 for 9 v Pickwick:

BNB St. Catherine regrouped after a middle-order slump to end the day on a total with which they would be satisfied.

They were 147 for seven at one stage.

E.S.A. Field Pickwick had reason to feel aggrieved at their fielding display as they dropped topscorer Horace Waldron several times in his knock of 49.

St. Catherine started well with the young Patrick Browne and Ryle Stuart quickly posting 40. But wickets then fell steadily at crucial intervals. Wicketkeeper Rondell Yearwood took four catches and kept well.

The Bayfield side can count themselves lucky as Gregory Jones, who finished work late, arrived at the ground just in time to come in at No. 11 after. As soon as he had put on his pads Thelston Payne was bowled by Tennyson Roach for 38.

He will resume today in partnership with Victor Skeete.

BET 243 v Carlton:

Led by an aggressive 69 from opener Ron Bates and an enterprising 47 from Ian Bradshaw, Cable & Wireless BET rallied to a healthy 243 after being put in on a tricky pitch.

Bates struck three sixes and five fours in an entertaining innings which lasted 102 minutes and 84 balls.

Ryan Hurley contributed 30 with two sixes but it was the left-handed Bradshaw who rebuilt the innings in a 63-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Adrian Brathwaite (14) after BET had slipped from 145 for three to 146 for five.

Bradshaw stroked four fours and one six in a crafty knock of 47 which spanned 67 minutes. He faced 57 deliveries.

Schools North 177 for 9 v Maple:

A defiant last-wicket partnership of 40 between Carlitos Lopez and Sulieman Benn kept CHIC Combined Schools North's first innings alive against Mount Gay Maple.

After being asked to bat by Maple, Schools North started shakily, losing their first five wickets with only 58 runs on the board.

However, a 54-run partnership between Brian Corbin, who struck 39, and Randy Graham (17) helped to stabilise the innings.

After their departure the Schools slumped again, from 112 for six to 137 for nine.

Benn, 22, and Lopez, 19, saw the innings through until bad light brought play to an early close.

Matthew Nicholls was the most successful bowler with three for 17.