Da Silva (136*), Layne (5-43) star on opening day of Headley/Weekes Tri-Series

Joshua Da Silva starred with the bat and Johann Layne was brilliant with the ball on the opening day of Match One in the Headley/Weekes Tri-Series on Wednesday.

Da Silva made a career-best 136 not out – his third First-Class century in his 50^th match – as he lifted Team Headley from 59-5 to 259 all out. The West Indies Academy closed the day on 49-2, 210 behind with eight wickets in hand.

Da Silva was supported by Akeem Jordan, who struck a breezy 54 – his maiden half-century – as the 19-year-old Layne finished with 5-43 on First-Class debut.

Jordan (2-15) then returned with the ball to give Team Headley a great start, as he claimed two wickets in the first over of the innings without a run on the board.

However, opener Kirk McKenzie came to his side’s rescue with an unbeaten 31 to see West Indies Academy to the close. He will resume with Kevlon Anderson on 12 not out.

“We would’ve liked to have batted out the day but from where we were, 259 is a decent total – we can bowl to that,” skipper Da Silva said after the day’s play.

“Our bowlers have something to bowl at. They don’t have to be too negative. We can attack a little bit. We’ve got two quick wickets early on in this innings so tomorrow we just want to come out here and do what we can.”

Opting to bat first, Team Headley endured a bad start when opener Kieran Powell touched a leg side catch to keeper Tevin Imlach without scoring in the first over from Layne, with a single run on the board.

They then lost left-handed opener Shayne Moseley for nine as he was forced to retire hurt in the fourth over after he collided with a fielder at the striker’s end, after completing a quick single.

Layne continued his demolition when he had Darren Bravo caught chest high at first slip by Teddy Bishop driving at a wide full length delivery for five, before getting Kavem Hodge to hole out to short mid-wicket on the pull for 10.

At 34-3, Layne hit wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott (15) in front and left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop then spun one through the gate to bowl Justin Greaves for three.

Da Silva stabilised the innings, first combining with Jordan in a 105-run, sixth wicket stand which steered Team Headley to lunch on 96-5. Da Silva faced 201 balls in 3-½ hours and hit 16 fours and three sixes while Jordan also played at a good tempo as he hit eight fours in a 64-ball innings.

Jordan provided Layne his fifth wicket when he top-edged a pull to short mid-wicket in the first hour after the interval but Anderson Phillip (16) stuck with Da Silva, in a 38-run, seventh wicket stand, to ensure the tail wagged – as the last five wickets added 200 runs.

Da Silva reached triple figures in just before tea to be 102 not out at the break, and then produced valuable runs in posting a further 22 for the eighth with Chaim Holder (10) and 35 for the ninth with last man Marquino Mindley, who survived for 18 balls in 31 minutes at the crease even though he failed to score.

All matches in the Headley Weekes Tri-Series will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel with live scorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre. (CWI)