CHIC Schools South, the cellar-placed team for the last few years, could very well pull off the first upset of the season once they can build on their favourable opening day position against Cockspur Wanderers.
Wanderers, boosted by the inclusion of West Indies opener Clayton Lambert, were swept away for 73 on a rain-affected pitch at Lodge ``A''.
The damage was done by 15-year-old fast bowler Ryan Nurse, who took five for 34. By the close the schoolboys had already collected first-innings points.
They resume today on 83 for six, but that position could have been better had they not lost three wickets without a run being added in the closing stages.
``We expect to keep fighting. A lot depends on the weather (on the last two days) but we are going to fight whatever happens,'' Schools South manager/coach Darnley Boxill told The SUN On Saturday.
``We were not daunted by the presence of Lambert. Our bowlers, in particular Nurse, bowled with plenty of heart and spirit.''
Boxill, Barbados' manager for the forthcoming Nortel youth championship in Trinidad and Tobago, was heartened by the performance of the schoolboys over the first four days of the season.
``The youngsters are learning from the experience. They are prepared to fight and I am encouraged by our performance.''
The next team in line to pick up first-innings points is Banks, who need another 33 runs to overhaul home team-Carlton's 114.
Winston Reid, already making his presence felt at his new club, claimed his second five-wicket haul of the season and with Banks having six wickets in hand, they should gain a useful lead.
On an overcast day when pitches mainly favoured bowlers, conditions were fairly good at Kensington Oval and Bank Hall where both home teams batted the entire opening day.
ESA Field Pickwick recovered from the loss of the first four wickets for 29 runs to reach 251 for nine at the close. Left-hander George Harris, who fell five short of a century, and Mike Matthews, with 75, were the men responsible for the fightback.
ICB Empire, helped by a third-wicket stand of 88 between Shawn Graham and Peter Springer, ended on 150 for eight after they were sent in by Sports & Games YMPC on a grassy pitch.
Another side which occupied the crease for the whole day's play was Police, their 171 for six against CHIC Schools North due largely to Derwin Thompson's unbeaten 57 and a couple of missed chances.
One bowler who made the most of a soft pitch was BET medium-pacer Adrian Brathwaite, who grabbed a career-best haul of seven for 73 against BCL at Blenheim ``A''.
Summarised scores:
At Bank Hall: ICB Empire 150/8 (S. Graham 56, P. Springer 39; R. Broomes 4/54) vs Sports & Games YMPC.
At Black Rock: United Insurance Carlton 114 (W. Reid 5/29, D. Sealy 3/28). Banks 82/4.
At Lodge ``A'': Cockspur Wanderers 73 (C. Lambert 31; R. Nurse 5/34). CHIC Schools South 83/6 (R. Burke 38).
At Kensington Oval: ESA Field Pickwick 251/9 (G. Harris 95, M. Matthews 75; R. Connelly 4/39, M. Lavine 4/81) vs Big B Spartan.
At Trents: St. Catherine 124/9 declared (H. Waldron 46; M. Moore 4/24). Maple 24/2.
At Blenheim ``A'': BCL 133 (W. Herbert 45 not out; A. Brathwaite 7/73). BET 53/2.
At Weymouth ``A'': Police 171/6 (D. Thompson 57 not out, F. Gilkes 43) vs CHIC Schools North.