BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jan 30, CMC – Liam Sebastien blasted his second first-class hundred to put Windward Islands on the brink of a first innings lead over Barbados in the WICB regional first-class championship on Saturday.
Sebastien struck a chancy, career-best 143, as Windwards, replying to Barbados’ first innings total of 287, reached 285 for seven at the close on the second day in their day/night fourth round match at Kensington Oval.
The 25-year-old from Dominica reached his hundred from 151 balls, when he played a searing square drive off Tino Best through backward point for the 12th of his 14 fours.
It was an emotional moment for Sebastien. He celebrated the landmark in animated fashion, punching the air violently with his fists and his bat before he threw his helmet high into the night sky.
But Sebastien lived a charmed life. He benefitted from no less than four chances from the erratic Barbadians.
On 16, he was caught at mid-on off Tino Best no-ball, and on 79, wicketkeeper Patrick Browne put down a straight-forward chance off the same bowler just before tea.
After reaching his milestone, Sebastien survived a run-out chance on 108, when Best’s wayward throw from mid-on eluded Browne, and rolled into the fine-leg boundary four.
Sebastien was then dropped on 125 at deep mid-wicket off Barbados captain Ryan Hinds – bowling his uncomplicated left-arm spin – when Kirk Edwards muffed a skier, and succeeded in parrying the ball over the ropes for six.
After mercilessly punishing the Barbadians bowlers for a little more than 4-1/2 hours, Sebastien was dismissed about 25 minutes before the close, when he gave a soft return catch to leg-spinner Nikolai Charles with the Windwards 15 runs away from attaining the lead.
When he arrived, the innings was in strife on 12 for two, after off-spinner Shane Shillingford snared the last two Barbadian wickets to finish with six for 98 from 37.4 overs.
Windwards suffered an immediate setback, when Devon Smith, their captain and most celebrated batsman, was caught and bowled for four off Pedro Collins from the second ball of the innings.
Best then tightened the screws, when he bowled Tyrone Theophille for one with the penultimate ball of the second over.
Sebastien came to the crease and started the recovery operation in partnership with Andre Fletcher. The pair added 125 either side of lunch to establish a new Windwards record for the third wicket against Barbados.
Sebastien batted with great enterprise almost from the start. He also struck three sixes from his 215 balls, including a sensational pull over mid-wicket on one leg off Best that brought the small, but lively crowd to its feet.
Fletcher however, curbed his natural aggressive instincts, and was prepared to play the supporting role to Sebastien before he was caught at deep extra cover for 63 driving Shamarh Brooks inside-out over the top. He struck eight boundaries from 126 balls in a little more than two hours.
Donwell Hector was then caught behind for nine essaying a dab to third man off Hinds to leave Windwards on 156 for four.
At this stage, Sebastien was flowing, and continued to plunder runs freely. He added 93 for the fifth wicket Lyndon James before the Windwards’ wicketkeeper/batsman was caught at extra cover off Collins for 28.
Sebastien followed a little more than half-hour later, and Shillingford was caught at gully off Kevin Stoute for six.
Earlier, Shillingford snared two of the last three Barbados scalps, after the home team resumed from their overnight total of 255 for seven.
He had Best caught in the deep for seven, and bowled Collins for 17 before Smith ran Corey Edwards out for one to bring the Barbados innings to a close.
Barbados hold down second place on 21 points, and Windwards are third on 12 points with a match in hand.
CONGRATS! U NEED SOME MORE CENTURIES
YOU NEED MORE CENTURIES SEBO,TO CONFOUND THE CRITICS WHO ARE BELIEVING THAT ITS A FLUKE..
SHANE IS CONTINUING TO DO WELL AND I AM HOPING THAT ONE DAY HE WILL MAKE IT TO THE WEST INDIES TEAM.
That is the way to go Half man. I hope Tyrone can bounce back second innings to do better.
Shane continue doing well.
Dominicans here are two young men in Dominica that our young people in D/A can look up to as examples. shane and liam we are so proud of you boys and i am just waiting to see youboys shine on the big stage which i know wont be long again.
By boy ,well done know you and support you from day one, you being walking all over Dallas city with your bat .True DA, man that is you, your dad made us proud before now is your turn. all de family here so excited to see your performance.. M .M. O G.
Liam, I am happy for you on this tremendous achievement. I remember that you were more keen on batting. I recalled bowling to you on the Botanical Gardens grass when you were younger and realized that your batting fundamentals was pretty advance for your age and with time would yield dividends. While I have followed your progress and know you would like more consistent scores my wish for you is to continue working on batting long and, despite any chances while batting never look back because the most important thing is the runs on the board. Your style of batting requires a lot of matches and it is not suprising that as the tournament comes to a close your scores will improve. Non-theless, this is a start of greater things to come in your cricket career and, given the state of West Indies cricket keep it up and you have a chance of representing the Windies. Good Luck!
lastweek there was discussion on q95 matt in the morning about the winward island picks & the guest was saying liam is overrated & he only got picked because of who his father is..that padner probably cant stnnd himself now…only wish i remember his name….way to go liam keep it up..4get them haters
bigup my boy sebo ..hope to see you behind that ck truck this carnival…congrats ..solomon lane massive booom!!!
Congrats to my baby….way to go babes…you know you have all my support 101%…keep it up!
Well done my boy…I have been supporting you from the time you began playing cricket and I always admire you walking all over the place with your bat. Keep it up my boy…I am proud of you.