Guyana managed to hold on for a draw against Barbados in Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval on the final day, restricting the hosts to 75 for 5 in their chase of 93 off the game’s last 12 overs.
This after Guyana were asked to follow on after being dismissed in the first innings for 250, chasing Barbados’ 480. Guyana overturned their 230-run first innings deficit to post 322 in their second innings, thereby setting up the 93-run target for Barbados to chase, but a fiery spell from Raymon Reifer (4 for 49) and Romario Shepherd (1 for 26) denied an easy chase for the home side as Barbados were left stranded 18 runs short of their target when play ended. The draw saw Guyana remain at the top of the table while Barbados moved to second courtesy their first-innings lead.
Choosing to bat, Barbados lost only three wickets on their way to 480, courtesy a second-wicket partnership of 205 between the captain Kraigg Brathwaite (143) and Shai Hope (215*). After Brathwaite fell after his 236-ball innings, where he scored 17 fours, Hope added another 154 runs for the third wicket with Shamarh Brooks (67). Hope’s innings of 215, which was also his best first-class score, was peppered with 27 boundary shots, including three sixes. After declaring for a score close to 500, Barbados’ bowlers then joined the act, led by pacer Miguel Cummins (5 for 41) and offspinner Roston Chase (4 for 46) to skittle Guyana out for 250. Half centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul (50) and Anthony Bramble (77) reduced Guyana’s deficit, but were forced to follow on after the first-innings deficit north of 200 runs.
Guyana dug their heels in during their second innings, batting almost 120 overs, stonewalling Barbados’ bowlers as they went about wiping out the lead. After wickets from Ashley Nurse reduced the visitors to 78 for 3, Guyana’s middle and lower order rallied around Chanderpaul’s second half century of the match. He scored 63, Guyana’s only fifty-plus score in the second innings, but contributions from Vishaul Singh (37), Riefer (35), Bramble (30) and Clinton Pestano (38), took them past Barbados’ total and eventually into a lead of 92 runs with twelve overs of play left.
Barbados needing to score at 7.75 runs per over to win, lost their way after a quick start. After their openers gave Barbados a quick start, Reifer picked up three wickets in five balls while Shepherd removed Shane Dowrich (1) to reduce the home side from 34 for 1 for 40 for 4. Hope scored 35 off 34 balls, but with his wicket off the last ball of the 11th over, Barbados’ chances of chasing down the 93 target were doused as they had to settle for a draw.
Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/1088901.html
