ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Veerasammy Permaul completed an amazing milestone when he took his 600th first-class wicket on an eventful opening day at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The left-arm spinner took 3-16 while left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes picked up 3-17, two crucial bowling performances, which bowled out team Headley for 177, after chose to bat first.
In reply, team Weekes found themselves 61-3, trailing by 116 runs heading into the second day of the contest. They reached 50-1 but off-spinner Chaim Holder snatched two wickets for two runs in three overs late in the day as the teams shared the honors on a day when 13 wickets fell.
Starting the day with 599 wickets, Permaul reached his milestone when he dismissed allrounder Akeem Jordan at 145-7, caught by keeper Devon Thomas as he attempted a slog-sweep over cow-corner.
Permaul, pleased with his performance, said:
“You’re always happy to achieve milestones and this is one I will celebrate and cherish … but like I said, this is like a normal game for me. It’s just another game. I want to put the team in position to win … and we did that earlier by bowling them out for under 200.”
Kavem Hodge played resolutely and top-scored with 67 which came off 151 balls with 10 fours, while Jordan played some classy drives as he made 37 off 83 balls with four boundaries. The pair added 71 for the seventh wicket to rescue the innings from 74-6.