KINGSTOWN St Vincent, (CMC) - The Windward Islands, behind a record opening partnership between Devon Smith and Romel Currency, settled into the driver’ s seat against Kenya at the end of a rain-affected day of their sixth round Carib Beer Cricket Series match at the Arnos Vale Playing Field yesterday.
When the rain ended play 10 overs early at 5.52 p.m. the pair who batted all day had put on a record 281 as the Windwards replied to their opponents’ modest 152.
The left-handed Smith, who recorded his third century of the season and second in a row, was on 169 while Currency who was the slower of the two was on 93.
The partnership eclipsed the 142 made by current team manager, Lockhart Sebastien and Lance John against Jamaica at Sabina Park in 1983.
The Windwards now have a lead of 129 with all their wickets in hand and two days remaining.
Smith, who hit a brilliant 159 in his last match against the Leeward Islands, was in majestic form as he reached his first century at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.
He was dismissed here for 99 against Guyana in 2002.
On his way to the landmark, Smith, who played four Tests and three One-Day Internationals for the West Indies last year, faced 210 balls in 241 minutes and hit five fours.
So far, he has struck 10 fours and one six off 279 balls in 340 minutes while Currency, who is in sight of his maiden first-class century, has so far struck three boundaries.
The Windwards, who resumed on their overnight four without loss, had gone through a pre-lunch period -- shortened 45 minutes by rain -- on 47 without loss.
They then went to tea at 152.
Both batsmen enjoyed slices of luck during their innings with Currency badly missed on 31 by captain Steve Tikolo at short cover off Peter Ongondo, and Smith twice played leg-spinner Collins Obuya just out of the reach of the fielders while on 54.
The Kenyans’ bowling, which for the most part looked pedestrian, has been weakened even further by the absence of their leading bowler, Maurice Odumbe.
Off-spinner Odumbe, who has so far taken 24 wickets, is nursing a badly bruised toe from the opening day when he was struck by Windward Islands seamer Fernix Thomas on his instep with a full-length delivery.
Despite bowling one of the two overs sent down by the Kenyans towards the close of the opening day, Odumbe was unable to take the field for the entire day.