Source: Ryan Bachoo – Cricket West Indies

NEWLOOK BARBADOS PRIDE didn’t look or play like a team hoping to repeat as champions in their final Group “A” Regional Super50 cricket match against Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners at Kensington Oval on Saturday night.

Already assured a semi-final place, Barbados Pride failed to defend a modest total of 196 for nine as CCC Marooners easily knocked off the runs, reaching 197 for four in 43.3 overs to win by six wickets, with 39 balls to spare.

CCC Marooners’ batting effort was led by captain Kyle Corbin, who ended his run-drought by scoring his first halfcentury of the tournament on his way to 66 off 80 balls with nine fours and a six.

After Corbin departed, right-handed batsman Yannick Ottley, who had taken two wickets for 24 runs in eight overs with his left-arm spin, made a maiden List A halfcentury to steer CCC to their second victory in their eight matches.

Tough match

Ottley, who finished on 54 not out off 88 balls with six fours, and fellow Trinidadian Vikash Mohan, who made 26 added 55 for the fourth wicket while Jameel Stuart hit four boundaries in making 17 not out.

It surely wasn’t the type of preparation Barbados Pride would’ve been hoping for ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against either English county Kent or Jamaica at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Without nine of their original players on West Indies senior and “A” team duties, Barbados Pride are virtually playing a second-string side.

The defending champions have been further weakened by a finger injury which has ruled out experienced spinner Sulieman Benn for the rest of the tournament.

Alexandra 17-year-old schoolboy Joshua Bishop not only replaced Benn in the squad but was selected in the starting 11 for his first match, along with all-rounder Kenroy Williams.

After winning the toss and batting on a slow pitch, Barbados Pride struggled to score freely against CCC’s varied attack.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Andre Fletcher picked the ideal moment to produce his maiden regional One-day hundred to set Windward Islands Volcanoes up for their most convincing win in the Super50 Cup on Saturday before Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners literally got the last laugh on Barbados Pride.

Fletcher cracked a brilliant 136 and shared a record-breaking, fourth-wicket stand with veteran Devon Smith, as the Volcanoes crushed Hants by 136 runs in their final Group “A” match at the Three Ws Oval to romp into the semi-finals and shatter Trinidad & Tobago Red Force’s hopes.

Later, half-centuries from Kyle Corbin and Player-of-the-Match Yannick Ottley helped Marooners sign off with a comfortable six-wicket victory over depleted reigning champions and Group “A” winners Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval.

Volcanoes 293 all out (48.4 overs) beat Hampshire 157 all out (37.4 overs) by 136 runs in Cave Hill

Fletcher smashed five fours and eight sixes from 135 balls and Smith struck 11 fours in 84 from 89 balls, sharing 155 for the fourth wicket to lead Volcanoes’ best batting effort for the tournament.

Chris Wood shone in an outstanding spell of left-arm fast-medium bowling, taking 5-38 from 9.4 overs, and former Barbados and WINDIES speedster Fidel Edwards kept up his wicket-taking form with 4-51 from nine overs.

In reply, Hampshire recovered from the loss of two early wickets to reach 67 for two in the 15th over.

But left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge grabbed 4-24 from 8.4 overs, and his captain and Volcanoes champion off-spinner Shane Shillingford bagged 3-45 from in his 10-over spell, as the English county side crumbled to defeat.

The result meant that Volcanoes – who needed a bonus point victory to reach the Final Four – grabbed the required five points, ending the group stage level on 22 points with Red Force, but sneaked into the semi-finals by virtue of having more wins.

It also confirmed three of the four semi-final places with Pride already qualified as the Group “A” winner and Guyana Jaguars booking their spot on from Group “B” on Friday night following their win over Jamaica Scorpions in Antigua.

Pride 196-9 (50 overs) lost to Marooners 197-4 (43.3 overs) by six wickets in Bridgetown

Corbin hit the top score of 66 and Ottley was unbeaten on 54, as the Barbados-based Marooners successfully chased their victory target to get the last laugh on the Pride in their day/night contest which brought the curtain down on Group “A” play.

The result was of academic interest, due to the Pride having already qualified, but it gave the Marooners something about which to brag on their neighbours.

Ottley formalised victory for the Marooners with 21 deliveries remaining, when he played a well-pitched delivery from Chemar Holder to point and scrambled a single.

Pride, missing a number of regular players either through WINDIES and WINDIES “A” duty, and injury, earlier could not find the right tempo to their innings, after they chose to bat on a slow pitch.

Roston Chase carried on his rich vein of form with the top score of 48, Kenroy Williams made 32, former Marooners captain Omar Phillips got 24 and Hayden Walsh, Jr added 21.

Jermaine Levy was the most successful Marooners bowler with 3-28 in his 10-over spell and Ottley grabbed 2-24 from eight overs.

Source : Ryan Bachoo – Cricketwestindies.org

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Windward Islands Volcanoes clinched a crucial win in their late bid for a semi-final spot and English county side Hampshire had a light work-out when Group “A” play continued in the Super50 Cup on Thursday here.

A crucial half-century from Barbados-born all-rounder Kyle Mayers led a successful Volcanoes chase and earned them an important, three-wicket victory over Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Windward Cricket Ground. 

And, Jimmy Adams and Joe Weatherley hammered half-centuries as Hampshire brushed aside Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners by nine wickets in the battle of the bottom-placed teams under the lights at Kensington Oval.

Red Force 254-8 (50 overs) lost to Volcanoes 255-7 (46.3 overs) by three wickets in Lucas Street 

Mayers struck two fours and four sixes in 53 from 48 balls and shared 97 for the sixth wicket with Kavem Hodge to earn Player-of-the-Match award and get Volcanoes back on track in the chase.

Given a sound base of 58 for the first wicket from openers Devon Smith and Johnson Charles, Volcanoes ran into trouble at 124 for five in the 22nd over, as they pursued a bonus-point win to enhance their claims for a place in the Final Four.

But Hodge came to the crease and made 32 from 66 balls to repair the damage, and get the Volcanoes moving in the right direction again before he was stumped off the final delivery of Sunil Narine’s 10-over spell.

Mayers followed two balls later caught at deep square leg off leg-spinner Imran Khan in the 38th over with Volcanoes needing 34 from 70 balls, but eliminating any chance of the bonus-point victory they craved.

Delorn Johnson and Volcanoes captain Shane Shillingford came together to carry the fight the rest of the way.

Narine ended with 4-42 from 10 overs and Khan 3-51 from his 10-over spell.

Earlier, Tion Webster hit four fours and two sixes in 58 from 77 balls and his captain Denesh Ramdin gathered 50 from 44 balls that included five fours and a six, as Red Force dug themselves out of at 184 for six in the 41st to reach a competitive total.

Webster and Isaiah Rajah with 34 shared 74 for the second wicket for Red Force before their departure left the side wobbling on 108 for three in the 29th over.

Ramdin then produced a captain’s knock to prop up the innings, adding 44 for the fourth wicket with Nicholas Pooran, 30 for the sixth wicket with Sunil Narine and 41 for the seventh wicket with Roshon Primus.

Shillingford ended with 3-54 from his 10-over spell to be the most successful Volcanoes bowler.

Red Force will now have to wait on the outcome of Volcanoes’ final preliminary match against Hampshire on Saturday before knowing their fate.

The defeat, the third for Red Force, left them on 22 points and still favoured to advance from group “A” to the semi-finals along with reigning champions Barbados Pride.

Volcanoes, third on 17 points, need a victory and a bonus point from their final match – along with a superior net run rate – in order to eclipse Red Force.

Mayers spoke to CWI Media following play.

Marooners 124 all out (33.3 overs) lost to Hampshire 125-1 (28 overs) by nine wickets in Bridgetown

Hants lost Thomas Alsop cheaply for 11 in the fifth over, but their captain Adams hit an unbeaten 66 and Weatherley supported with 56 not out to see the visitors to a comprehensive victory.

Adams struck six fours and a six from 68 balls and Weatherley crashed eight boundaries in an 88-ball innings, as the pair shared a 114 – unbroken – for the second wicket.

Choosing to bat, Marooners were bundled out with Kjorn Ottley hitting the top score of 50 and captain Kyle Corbin adding 31.

The pair gave the Marooners a solid start, as they put on 56 off 62 deliveries for the first wicket.

Ottley lashed four fours and three sixes in a 57-ball outing and Corbin also scored at a fair clip in a 37-ball knock which included six fours.

After Gareth Berg trapped Corbin lbw in the 11th over on his way to figures of 3-28 in 10 overs, the batting of the composite side lacked substance and stability, as Hants claimed their second win in seven matches and Marooners slid to the bottom of the standings with their fifth defeat.

Source : Ryan Bachoo – Cricketwestindies.org

Jason Holder has hardly played for Barbados Pride in recent years. Yesterday, however, he made his presence felt in a big way in a big match.

The fast bowling all-rounder made a telling contribution with both bat and ball to spearhead the defending regional Super50 Festival champions to an important victory by 32 runs against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Kensington Oval.

Before a crowd of about 2 000 – the biggest of the tournament – the hosts rebounded from defeat against Windward Islands Volcanoes two days earlier to complete their fifth win in six matches and re-establish themselves as favourites to top Group A.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Pride found the conditions challenging and were 173 for six in the 42nd over when Holder was joined by fellow six-footer Carlos Brathwaite.

The two combined effectively at the death in an even half-century partnership that lifted the hosts to a handy total of 235 for seven, with Holder contributing 32 off 36 balls and Brathwaite 31 off 28 balls.

Holder came back with the ball to grab four wickets, including three with the new ball that left the opponents 34 for three. And when Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were threatening to mount a recovery and the game in the balance at 114 for five in the 32nd over, he returned to strike with his first ball of a new spell to dislodge topscorer Isiah Rajah.

It signalled the end of Trinidad and Tobago’s main resistance and they were restricted to 203 in 48.4 overs in spite of a ninth-wicket half-century stand between Imran Khan and Sheldon Cottrell.

It was an efficient performance from the Bajans, who benefited from a team effort in spite of Holder’s standout effort.

While no Bajan managed a half-century, Roston Chase’s 46 was one of six contributions of more than 30. Chase himself looked to be the most accomplished batsman on the day, stroking his runs at better than a run-a-ball before he was bowled by pacer Shannon Gabriel off a ball that virtually crept along the turf.

Chase arrived in the 30th over to increase the tempo after captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope and Jonathan Carter had to fight hard for runs against an attack that was steady throughout. The trio did the hard work before perishing when trying to push on.

Kraigg Brathwaite made 34 off 53 balls before he was dismissed in uncharacteristic fashion, charging down the pitch against left-arm spinner Kharry Pierre and slicing a catch to backward point.

Hope battled away for 45 off 80 balls before an uncharacteristic big hit against a slower ball from left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell resulted in a catch to mid-on.

And the left-handed Carter, after scoring 30 from 46 balls, fell to a catch at the wicket.

With Barbados Pride getting valuable runs in the last ten overs, they had a handy total to defend under the lights and Holder, nagging in line and length, made three strikes in his first four overs to give the Pride an early advantage in the run chase under the lights.

His biggest scalp was Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin, who had no chance in keeping out another ball that almost rolled along the pitch to trap him lbw.

By then, Holder had also removed openers Amir Jangoo and Tion Webster, both victims of attempted pull shots.

Rajah, who made 39 off 76 balls, and fellow left-hander Nicolas Pooran gave Barbados some concern by adding 58 for the fourth wicket but the result was never in doubt after three wickets fell for the addition of 22 runs.

Rajah’s wicket was the key one when he dragged on Holder’s first ball of a new spell. Before that, Pooran edged a catch to the ’keeper off Carlos Brathwaite after scoring 29 off 63 balls.

It was relatively slow going by the pair in the face of tidy stuff from rookie left-arm fast-medium Dominic Drakes, whose first six overs cost 18, and off-spinner Ashley Nurse, who conceded 27.

Source:  Haydn Gill – Daily Nation

Barbados Pride’s winning streak in the Super50 Cup is over.

After four successive victories, the Zone ‘A’ hosts lost to Windward Islands Volcanoes by 22 runs at Kensington Oval on Friday night.

Set 202 to win, the Pride were dismissed for 179 in 46.4 overs.

It was always going to be a challenge for the Bajans after they were reduced for 43 for four in the 13^th over following double strikes from left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge and medium-pacer Kyle Mayers.

Hodge, who has represented UWI for the past two seasons, and Barbadian Mayers shared the first four wickets after handy contributions with the bat that gave the Volcanoes a workable total and a decent chance of recording their second win in five matches.

Hodge, using the new ball, dislodged opener Kevin Stoute and in-form Shai Hope, while Mayers struck in successive balls by removing Jonathan Carter and Roston Chase in the 13^th over.

It left captain Kraigg Brathwaite and West Indies Test and ODI captain Jason Holder with a repair job and the pair partially repaired the damage by adding 63 in 15 overs for the fifth wicket.

After Brathwaite fell for 32 and Holder 49, Carlos Brathwaite (24) and debutant Dominic Drakes (23) gave the Pride some hope in an eighth wicket partnership of 47.

They were together at 172 for seven in the 44^th over, but Windwards held their nerve to grab the last three wickets.

To their credit, Barbados managed to restrict the Windwards after the vistitors made an encouraging start to progress to 80 for two in the 19^th over.

Drakes, son of former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Vasbert Drakes, and veteran left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn applied the brakes with different methods.

While Drakes, who turned 20 last Tuesday, bowled with controlled aggression to claim two wickets for 12 runs in six overs in his first senior limited-overs appearance, the 36-year-old Benn was also mean in ten wicketless overs that cost 27.

Left-armer Drakes induced Johnson Charles into making a mess of a hook that resulted in a lobbed catch to the keeper after the opener made 40 off 54 balls and also accounted for Barbadian Kirk Edwards by way of a catch to point.

When Ashley Nurse claimed the first of his two wickets, Windwards were 113 for five in the 32^nd over, but Mayers (37) and Hodge (27) helped them to rally.

SHAI HOPE carved out a workmanlike century. Roston Chase was in sublime form in marching to 72 that looked more like a hundred. And debutant pacer Chemar Holder bowled impressively in his first limited-overs outing in senior national colours.

It all contributed to Barbados Pride marching to a mammoth victory by 183 runs over Combined Colleges and Colleges (CCC) Marooners at the Windward Club yesterday to complete a fourth successive win and maintain their unbeaten run in the regional Super50 Cup.

Don’t, however, believe it was a cakewalk for the defending champions.

The Pride were facing a stern test, having been reduced to 43 for three in the 16th over after they were sent in.

Hope and Chase orchestrated a brilliant fightback in a fourth-wicket partnership of 151 that transformed a potentially worrying position into a fighting total of 254 for six from their 50 overs.

It was just about what Barbados would have bargained for and after Kemar Roach and Jason Holder struck in successive overs at the start of CCC’s response, the 19-year-old Holder marked his first limited-overs match with the Pride by striking three blows that left the opponents 58 for six on the way to a disappointing total of 71.

In between, Holder also took a fine, low tumbling catch running in from deep backward square-leg that typified another exemplary effort from the reigning champions, who have now installed themselves as favourites to win Group “A” on the way to the semi-finals.

Barbados Pride needed some stability after struggling through the first hour when they lost the wickets of captain Kraigg Brathwaite, fellow opener Kevin Stoute and Jonathan Carter in the face of an impeccable opening spell from left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds, who hardly bowled a bad ball in six overs that cost just a solitary run.

Hope and Chase, however, skilfully negotiated a tricky pitch to lead a Barbados recovery in contrasting fashion. While Hope built his innings – his 102 required 135 balls – Chase was a joy to watch with impeccable stroke-play, gathering his runs at better than a run a ball.

“I am pleased that we got the win. It was one of those wickets where you had to dig in. It was a bit two-paced, especially at the beginning. Roston played a big part in that partnership, so it made my job easier,” said Hope, who was named Man-of the-Match for his fourth List A century and four dismissals.

‘No easy pitch’

“It wasn’t the easiest pitch to come in and flow. It was difficult for a batter to come in and flow straight away. I saw myself as the person to bat right through the innings.”

Hope benefited from a chance just after passing his half-century and Chase was missed when he was in the 40s, but those aside, the two batsmen played splendidly, counting seven sixes between them, the best of which was probably struck by Chase over long-off from the first ball by leg-spinner Keron Cottoy.

Holder, in the team to replace West Indies “A” team selectee Miguel Cummins, was brought in as a first change to replace his namesake, and immediately made an impact. He bowled with good pace and extracted some bounce, first removing Yanick Ottley, the victim of a catch at the wicket as he attempted to hook. Jameel Stuart was another casualty to a short ball which he miscued to mid-off trying to pull.

After grabbing eight wickets in his first first-class match for the Pride a few weeks ago, Holder earned praise from Hope for his effort on both counts.

“Everyone is pulling their weight and Chemar has done exceptionally well. He looked the part in his first first-class game. It’s nice to see a young fast bowler coming through,” Hope said.

Truth be told, CCC Marooners looked below par in their response with the exception of a fighting 32 by Hinds, and it was their third defeat in four matches.

In contrast, Barbados Pride continued on their merry way towards the semi-finals.

Source: Haydn Gill – Daily Nation

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – It was carded as a day/night affair but Trinidad and Tobago required less then three hours to dispose of a listless Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by nine wickets in their second match of the Regional Super50 here Thursday.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine was brilliant, claiming five for 10 from 7.4 overs, to sink Marooners for 101 off 25.4 overs after the Barbabados-based unit opted to bat first at historic Kensington Oval.

Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell picked up three for 40 while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre took two for 15.

Veteran left-hander Ryan Hinds top-scored with a stroke-filled 32 from 19 balls but was just one of two batsmen to reach double figures, as Marooners went from dominant in their opening win against Windward Islands Volcanoes, to dreadful all in the space of three days.

West Indies opener Evin Lewis then added to the Marooners’ woes, blasting a breathtaking unbeaten 70 from just 42 balls, as Red Force raced to their paltry target in the 12^th over.

The aggressive left-hander showed little mercy, smashing nine fours and four sixes as he raced to his half-century off 28 balls.

He was particularly severe on Aaron Daley, taking 20 from the medium pacer’s third over – the 10^th over of the innings – by belting a pair of fours and sixes.

Lewis put on 37 off 31 balls for the first wicket with Tion Webster who made 15 before going bowled by Daley in the sixth over.

Left-hander Amir Jangoo, who struck three fours in an unbeaten 12, was more or less a bystander as Lewis dominated an unbroken 65-run, second-wicket stand off just 37 deliveries.

Earlier, Cottrell produced a lethal new-ball burst to knock over captain Kyle Corbin (0), Kjorn Ottley (8) and Oraine Williams (7), and reduce Marooners to 22 for three in the fifth over.

The left-handed Hinds then paired with Yannick Ottley (17) to rebuild the innings in a 53-run fourth wicket partnership.

Hinds scored all his runs in boundaries – eight of them – while Ottley held up the other end in a 39-ball knock which included a single six.

There was no sign of the imminent collapse as the pair navigated the Red Force attack but the introduction of Narine and Pierre changed the complexion of the game.

Pierre broke the stand when he removed Hinds in the 11^th over and Ottley followed in the 18^th when Narine trapped him lbw.

Narine then worked his magic as Marooners lost their last six wickets for 13 runs.

Source: Ryan Bachoo – cricketwestindies.org

It was reassuring to see two Barbadians batting intelligently with maturity, responsibility and authority yesterday.

Jonathan Carter and Roston Chase were the epitome of excellence as they guided Barbados Pride to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over English county Hampshire in their Regional Super50 Cup cricket match at the 3Ws Oval.

The pair mixed defence with controlled aggression as Barbados Pride, chasing Hampshire’s total of 227 for seven, coasted to 231 for three in 46.2 overs to win with 22 balls to spare.

Carter was deserving of a century as he finished on 92 not out off 113 balls while Chase ended on a career-best One-Day score of 85 not out off 93 balls.

Left-hander Carter hit seven fours in his measured knock while tall, elegant right-hander Chase also stroked seven fours and climaxed the match with the second of his two sixes when he hoisted left-arm seamer Chris Wood over mid-wicket.

They featured in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 168 runs in 31 overs to carry Barbados Pride to their second straight victory.

Earlier, Hampshire, sent in, posted a respectable total, with former Zimbabwe left-handed batsman Sean Ervine hitting the top score of 63 off 68 balls and rookie 21-year-old right-hander Joe Weatherley making 51 off 78 balls in his third List A game.

Wicketkeeper Lewis McManus also weighed in with a breezy career-best knock of 47 off 42 balls, laced with three sixes and three fours.

Fast bowler Miguel Cummins led Pride’s bowling with three for 27 off eight overs to follow up his four-wicket haul in Saturday’s lopsided opening victory against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Ervine, who hit five fours and two sixes in his knock, and Weatherley rescued Hampshire from the early woes of 29 for three with a 112-run fourth-wicket partnership in 22.1 overs after the English team was sent in on an easy-paced pitch.

After both batsmen fell within six runs of each other to leave Hampshire on 147 for five in 37 overs, McManus and all-rounder Bradley Taylor, who made 20 with one six off 24 balls, added a further 48 for the sixth wicket.

Chase held a simple return catch as Ervine got a leading edge while he held a smart head-high catch at cover point offered by Weatherley off experienced left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.

Benn, with one for 45 and captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who took one for 43 with his cheeky off cutters, were the only Barbadian bowlers who completed their full allotment of ten overs.

Brathwaite had surprisingly introduced himself from as early as the ninth over and the move paid off initially as he bowled opener Thomas Alsop with a faster delivery for 12.

Off-spinner Ashley Nurse also bowled captain James Adams for three as he pushed forward but Brathwaite, after introducing Benn, switched himself to the southern end instead of recalling Roach and Cummins in the middle overs.

Strangely, burly fast-medium bowler Carlos Brathwaite was not used until the 48th over.

The 35-year-old Ervine, who didn’t face a single over of seam in his innings, cashed in on the spin offerings. He lifted Nurse over long-on for a six and also swung Kraigg over mid-wicket for another six before sweeping him to the fine leg boundary.

Weatherley got into the act, swinging Benn for a six over mid-wicket and in his next both Ervine and Weatherley dispatched him through extra cover for boundaries.

After their dismissals, Roach was brought back on at 149 for five after 38 overs, and Cummins finally returned at 178 for five with six overs left.

Cummins duly accounted for McManus and Taylor but still had two overs remaining when the innings closed.

In reply, Barbados Pride lost openers Kevin Stoute and Kraigg Brathwaite cheaply for two and 12 while Shai Hope went for 34.

Stoute edged a wide outswinger from Bradley Wheal to wicketkeeper McManus while Brathwaite, playing across a yorker from Fidel Edwards which seamed through the air, had his centre stump uprooted.

When Hope drove Wood straight to short cover after a 44-ball cameo in which he struck four boundaries, it was 63 for three in the 16th over and Barbados Pride were in a spot of bother.

Chase, fresh from a half-century against Red Force and Carter, eager for a recall to the Windies’ One-Day side, joined forces and sensibly steered Barbados Pride’s ship with scintillating stroke-play.

Carter hit Taylor over long-off for four and also pulled a short ball one-bounce into the mid-wicket boundary before bringing up his half-century with a straight four off Wood.

Chase also whipped Wood off his legs and pulled a short ball through square leg for boundaries. A classic cover-driven boundary followed in his next over while he also essayed a couple of classic cover drives to the off-spin of Taylor.

After launching Wheal wide of long-off a couple times, Carter, with victory approaching, superbly stroked Weatherley’s gentle off-spin for a straight four before Chase sealed the outcome.

Source: Ezra Stuart – Weekend Nation

The champs are off and running in fine style. Fast bowling, so often a major weapon for Barbados teams in years gone by, was the catalyst in an impressive victory by 171 runs for the defending regional Super50 champions over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Kensington Oval last nigh

After posting a handy 278 for nine in their 50 overs of the day/night contest, Barbados Pride, behind pacer Kemar Roach’s awesome new ball burst that was backed up by Miguel Cummins and Carlos Brathwwaite and supported by smart catching, annihilated the 2015 and 2016 champions for a modest 107.

While hometown fans would have been delighted by the performance of the local boys, that the entertainment was short-lived would have been a disappointment for many who came into the ground for the night session under the lights.

When Barbados Pride batted after they were sent in, the pitch hardly looked to contain any terrors as the hosts mounted a satisfactory total on the back of opener Kevin Stoute’s measured 74 off 107 balls, Roston Chase’s fluent 50 off 47 balls and Shai Hope’s typically classy 47 off 50 balls.

The surface suddenly appeared to change character when Roach and Cummins took the ball to undermine Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s top order with telling effect in a dramatic collapse.

In the twinkling of an eye, the ball was bouncing appreciably, it moved off the seam and outside edges were clipped with regularity to the extent that it was difficult to keep count of the number of wickets that fell to catches behind the wicket.

When Roach struck in the first over by removing Tion Webster to a catch at mid-off, it was difficult to predict the mayhem that followed.

The first sign perhaps came in Roach’s next over when he induced left-hander Amir Jangroo into edging a catch to second slip, where Ashley Nurse swooped smartly to his right to haul in the first of a handful of fine catches by Barbados Pride.

And it was clear the fans were in for something special when in the sixth over when the hosts claimed one of the big fish, Evin Lewis, another victim to a second slip catch by Nurse as the left-hander edged a defensive prod.

The destruction continued in the next over when Roach dislodged West Indies One-Day International vice-captain Jason Mohammed through the first of three catches by wicketkeeper Shai Hope that left Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in dire straits at 17 for four.

By then, the result was a foregone conclusion and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Cummins and Brathwaite sustaining the pressure created by Roach at the start.

At 50 for eight, Trinidad and Tobago looked certain to be dismissed for their lowest total in a regional 50-over match, but Sunil Narine counter-attacked to ensure that they went past the 84 they made against Jamaica at Chedwin Park in 1997.

The left-handed Narine, whose batting has gained attention as a pinch-hitting opener in the Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League over the last year, lashed 51 off 28 balls. It might have prevented a complete rout but it did little to erase any of the embarrassment for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Barbados Pride, fielding ten players with international experience, would also have been satisfied with the work of their batsmen despite the early dismissal of captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

The repair job came in a second-wicket partnership of 97 off 114 balls between Stoute and Hope, who never looked troubled against an attack that posed no real threat in spite of Narine’s presence.

After Hope fell to a catch when he attempted a reverse sweep, Jonathan Carter arrived to immediately find his touch in a knock of 37 off 43 balls. There was brief hiccup with the quick dismissals of Stoute, Carter and Shamarh Brooks, but Chase batted through until the penultimate over to ensure that Barbados Pride reached a challenging total.

It proved to be imposing in the end, as Cummins (4-35), Roach (3-33) and Brathwaite (2-32) shared nine wickets.

Source: Hayden Gill – NationNews