Javon Searles took four wickets including that of Shai Hope and Kieran Powell scored 95 as the WIBest ‘B’ battled back to be within sight of victory heading into today’s final day of play in the Best v Best four-day match at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

At the start of play Wednesday, the Jermaine Blackwood-lead WIBest ‘A’ had a commanding lead of 286 runs with seven wickets in hand with Shai Hope unbeaten on 104 and looking to push on to a bigger score. Blackwood was at the other end on 24.

However, Searles dismissed Hope for 106 and triggered a collapse that saw the WIBest ‘A’ collapse from 197 for 3 to 224 all out. Blackwood only added one to his overnight score before lost his wicket to Preston McSween, who along with Searles and Raymon Reifer ran through the lower order.

Searles, who also got Keon Harding for six, ended with figures of 4-40 while McSween took 2-35.

Reifer took 2-22 from the five overs he bowled.

Chasing 311 for victory, the Jahmar Hamilton-lead ‘B’ side reached 218 for 4 at stumps thanks to a patient 95 from Powell and knocks of 36 from Shayne Moseley and 39 from Shamarh Brooks.

Powell’s 95 consumed 175 balls in which he hit 11 fours and a six and he is hopeful that his performance would have caught the eye of the West Indies selectors ahead of the visit of South Africa for their two-Test series.

“I would hope it (the score) leaves me in a position of strength.  I think there has been just one century, so this is the second-highest score if I’m not mistaken,” Powell said after his potentially match-winning innings.

“Hopefully, I can get into the squad, and we will take it from there.  I’ve wanted to get back into the team for some time now.  So, obviously spending time and showing application, I am hoping there is hopefully a reward for that.”

The ‘B’ side was helped somewhat by the absence of ‘A’ side fast bowler Shannon Gabriel who was unable to bowl because of a tight hamstring, which caused Blackwood to use all of 10 bowlers including Darren Bravo in a desperate bid to get wickets.

Rahkeem Cornwall was the best of them taking 2-61 from the 20 overs he bowled. Veerasammy Permaul took 1-61 and Markino Mindley 1-18.