Bridgetown, Barbados - Contrasting centuries by the unrelated Brathwaites, Kraigg and Carlos, highlighted the second day's play of Series 5 matches in the BCA Elite division Championship.
In typically, solid style, West Indies Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite became the first batsman to score 500 runs as well as three centuries for the season as he guided CounterPoint Wanderers to first innings lead over Sierka Rentals Maple with an unbeaten 172 at Dayrells Road.
The 22-year-old Wanderers captain now has 591 runs at an average of 147.75. He also made 172 not out off BDFSP to record the first hundred of the season and hit an unbeaten 162 against ESA Field Pickwick, the first hundred of Series 2 as well - both on home turf, too.
Kraigg Brathwaite's ninth century at this level came in 202 minutes off 166 balls with 16 fours. By stumps, he had batted for 298 minutes, faced 238 balls and struck 24 boundaries as Wanderers reached 327 for five in reply to Maple's first innings of 267 all out after starting the day on 27 for two. Brathwaite was then on 14.
This is the second time Kraigg Brathwaite has made three centuries and also over 500 runs in a season. In 2009, he amassed 910 runs (ave: 70.00) with a career-best 222 not out for Guardian General Barbados Youth against LIME at Lester Vaughan, Cane Garden (Series 10) when it was a 16-man Competition.
And mind you, five of his centuries are over 150.
Dramatic best sums up a whirlwind, career-best 143 not out by all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite on his return to his old club Massy United Insurance Wildey who are in a relatively good position to force a win against Massy Stores Spartan at Queen's Park.
Drafted in for his first match of the season at the start of the day's play for wicket-keeper/batsman Mario Albert, who is on national football duties overseas, Carlos Brathwaite smashed one of the fastest centuries in the Championship, taking just 65 balls in 80 minutes with six fours and nine sixes.
And when Wildey declared at 317 for eight off 66 overs at tea from an overweek 120 for three - a first innings lead of 195 - he had counted nine fours and 12 sixes in his 93-ball innings, which came in a shade under two hours.
Spartan were putting up a fight in the second innings, closing on 153 for three.
It was the fourth century at this level for the 27-year-old Carlos Brathwaite and his first in four seasons. His previous hundred was 132, also for the same club (then named Banks and subsequently renamed Banks Wildey and Wildey) and against Spartan as well, in the second innings of Round 2 at The Brewery in 2011 - the last year the Championship was officially called Division 1.
Banks were demoted after the 2011 season until their return to the top league this year, and Carlos Brathwaite spent the intervening seasons with Sagicor Life UWI.
Two bowlers - left-arm pacer Adeko Collymore of Pickwick and off-spinner Alcindo Holder of front-runners Brathwaite Construction/Crane Resort St. Catherine - both recorded their first ever five-wicket hauls.
Collymore snatched five for 18 off 15 overs to help spur struggling Pickwick to a commanding 167-run first innings lead over rock-bottom Barbados Youth at Foursquare Oval, while Holder, better known as a hard-hitting batsman, undermined his former ICBL Empire club-mates with five for 45 off 18.4 overs as the title holders were led on first innings by 119 at Bayfield.
With St. Catherine closing their second innings on 98 for two for an overall lead of 222 going into the third and final day, Empire will be under tremendous pressure to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
In the other match, title-chasing UWI remain in a strong position to defeat BDFSP at Paragon.
After conceding a big first innings lead of 233 by crumbling for 120 from an overweek 12 for two and forced to follow-on, BDFSP showed much more fight by closing on 181 for four but they will have to bat well into the last session to avoid defeat.
Yet another Brathwaite, Kemar, had personal satisfaction.
With a knock of 60 in the BDFSP second innings, 21-year-old opener Kemar Brathwaite carried his aggregate for the season to 421 including two centuries (ave: 46.77).
It is the first time Kemar Brathwaite has made over 400 runs in what is now his seventh straight season. He represented Barbados Youth from 2009 to 2012 and the now demoted LIME in the previous two seasons.
Rain, which fell heavily just after the close of play, could be a key factor in the outcome of all matches.
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