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Spartan 191, Empire 253-9

You would not have been out of place yesterday if you told anyone that ICB Empire had things easy like a Sunday afternoon.

Given an ideal pitch, fast outfield, a threadbare attack and ragged ground fielding, the joint early leaders easily marched to first innings points against Big B Spartan.

Their unheralded openers, Nicholas Bowen and Peter Springer, launched the innings with a near-century stand and after they were dismissed in quick succession, the established Roland Holder, Shawn Graham and Sherlon Greaves scored freely in the post-tea session.

The lead was achieved just after 4:30 p.m. with only four wickets down but then, in a bid to quickly increase the lead, Empire gave away five wickets for 46 runs.

By the close, the visitors had gained a lead of 62 and would well be fancying their chances of their first victory over opponents they have not beaten in a Division 1 match since 1978.

The Spartan attack of yesterday was nowhere as formidable as that of recent years. It included three teenagers, one of whom was not given a single over.

The two recognised bowlers, Hattian Graham and Sulieman Benn, were not at their best and it was left to old-stager Roy Alleyne to do some damage in the middle of the innings.

Trundling off-breaks, Alleyne removed Springer, Holder and Graham in 16 successive overs that cost him 72.

The left-handed Sprin-ger and Bowen batted impressively in adding 99, the partnership dominated by the latter whose 62 included several sweetly-executed strokes.

The 25-year-old Bowen was strong on the cut and on the drive, strokes that brought him most of his 12 fours before he was plucked out by a diving catch by Justin Pounder at cover off Benn.

Springer then missed a cut from Alleyne and was bowled for 34.

Holder and Graham put on 68 at better than a run-a-minute and both seemed set for a significant contribution when Alleyne dismissed them in successive overs.

Graham, who made 28, hoisted a catch to deep mid-on, while Holder got to 41 before he was snapped up low at slip after playing across the off-spinner.

Greaves enjoyed himself in a run-a-ball 42 before he was bowled by Graham.