There was a very tight finish to the 2014 West Indies first-class Championship, as Barbados retained the title – their 22nd – by a two-point margin over Trinidad & Tobago.
It was a wonderful year in which Barbados boasted of the “double”, having also captured the NAGICO Super50 Tournament, which was played in Trinidad & Tobago in February.
Captained by opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite, Barbados finished the four-day Competition for the President’s Trophy with 82 points, followed by Trinidad & Tobago on 80, Windward Islands 65, Jamaica 59, Combined Campuses & Colleges 49, Leeward Islands 42 and Guyana 29.
Keen interest surrounded the last round.
After crushing the Leeward Islands by an innings and 49 runs with a day and two sessions to spare at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, Barbados had to wait on the outcome of the match between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago at Providence Stadium.
Trinidad & Tobago went into the round at the top of the table on 72 points, but their hopes of lifting the title were dashed on the final day by rain, which reduced play to only 29 overs.
Set 225 to win, Guyana moved from an overnight 17 for one to 80 for three when play was called off following a couple interruptions for rain.
Barbados head coach Henderson Springer praised his team for their professionalism and commitment.
“It is indicative of the effort that the players have put in over a period of time and it is good that we have won and brought some glory to Barbados cricket again. Barbados has a rich cricket history and it is important that these young men continue to respect that legacy and that history and strive to perform and do well for their country,” Springer said.
“This result – winning the four-day tournament to add to the one-day title – is just the beginning of things we want to achieve as we go along. Earlier in the year, we set out a plan and we worked hard to reach those points we set. It was a total team effort.”
Contesting a separate Trophy, in the semi-finals Barbados lost by one wicket to Jamaica at Kensington Oval, and Windward Islands beat Trinidad & Tobago by 234 runs at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
The Final at the Beausejour (now Daren Sammy) Stadium in St. Lucia was drawn with Jamaica taking first innings.
For Barbados, Kraigg Brathwaite made the most runs (471) including four half-centuries at an average of 42.81.
His aggregate was fourth on the overall list with Jermaine Blackwood (Jamaica) amassing 611 (ave: 40.73), Shacaya Thomas (Combined Campuses & Colleges) 548 (ave: 45.66) and Devon Smith (Windward Islands) 539 (ave: 35.93).
The other Barbados batsmen scoring over 200 runs were: Shane Dowrich 358 (ave: 39.77); Kirk Edwards 299 (ave: 74.75); Ashley Nurse 298 (ave: 42.57); Carlos Brathwaite 292 (ave: 29.20); Jonathan Carter 278 (ave: 27.80) and Omar Phillips 229 (ave: 38.16).
Edwards, the champion captain the previous season, had the honour of hitting two centuries and also topping his team’s averages, having played four matches.
Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn was the leading Barbados wicket-taker. He grabbed 37 wickets (ave: 15.45) and was only surpassed by Windward Islands left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters with 40 (ave: 12.75).
Off-spinner Nurse enjoyed a fine all-round season, picking up 32 wickets (ave: 18.43), while medium-pacer Carlos Brathwaite took 12 (ave: 18.75).
Nurse and Carlos Brathwaite hit their maiden first-class centuries against Trinidad & Tobago, who were crushed by an innings and 160 runs at Kensington Oval.
Nurse slammed a swashbuckling, unbeaten 130, while Brathwaite made 109 as they added 190 in 28.3 overs for the eighth wicket in a total of 479 for eight declared.
The aggression of Nurse was underlined by the fact that his century came in 89 minutes off 85 balls with 15 fours and two sixes, while Brathwaite’s took 206 minutes off 128 balls and included six fours and two sixes.
All told, Nurse batted for 115 minutes, faced 111 balls and struck 16 fours and four sixes, while Brathwaite was at the crease for 215 minutes, received 136 balls and hit six fours and two sixes.
Barbados team (with matches in brackets) – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Ashley Nurse (seven), Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins (five), Kirk Edwards, Omar Phillips, Kevin Stoute (four), Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Jason Holder (three), Fidel Edwards, Shai Hope (two).
Summarised scores of Barbados’ matches:
At Beausejour (now Daren Sammy) Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia: February 28, March 1, 2. (Day/Night) Windward Islands won by 9 wickets.
Barbados 213 all out (80.5 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 82, Carlos Brathwaite 44, Kevin Stoute 19, Tino Best 19, Jonathan Carter 16; Nelon Pascal 5-61, Alston Bobb 2-27, Kenroy Peters 2-29) and 90 all out (32.4 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 15, Rashidi Boucher 14, Roston Chase 14; Kenroy Peters 5-16, Nelon Pascal 3-42, Delorn Johnson 2-28).
Windward Islands 252-9 declared (66.3 overs) (Liam Sebastien 62, Lindon James 62 not out, Keddy Lesporis 43, Andre Fletcher 21, Johnson Charles 20, Tyrone Theophile 13, Devon Smith 12; Miguel Cummins 4-49, Jonathan Carter 2-23) and 52-1 (11 overs) (Johnson Charles 32 not out).
At Providence Stadium: March 7, 8, 9. (Day/Night) Barbados won by 136 runs.
Barbados 184 all out (76 overs) (Roston Chase 55, Shane Dowrich 35, Ashley Nurse 29 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 19, Carlos Brathwaite 15, Sulieman Benn 15; Veerasammy Permaul 3-33, Raun Johnson 3-38) and 186 all out (75 overs) (Rashidi Boucher 36, Roston Chase 30, Kevin Stoute 28, Shane Dowrich 23, Sulieman Benn 20, Jonathan Carter 19; Devendra Bishoo 5-71, Veerasammy Permaul 2-54).
Guyana 140 all out (68.4 overs) (Sewnarine Chattergoon 50, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 41, Anthony Bramble 22; Sulieman Benn 5-26, Ashley Nurse 3-51) and 94 all out (42.3 overs) (Anthony Bramble 21, Veerasammy Permaul 21, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 14, Assad Fudadin 12; Carlos Brathwaite 4-35, Ashley Nurse 3-39, Sulieman Benn 2-8).
At 3Ws Oval: March 14, 15, 16, 17. Match drawn.
Combined Campuses & Colleges 269 all out (89 overs) (Kyle Corbin 55, Chadwick Walton 54, Shacaya Thomas 50, Kavem Hodge 34 not out, Jomel Warrican 24, Steven Jacobs 22; Sulieman Benn 4-66, Roston Chase 2-24, Jason Holder 2-44, Ashley Nurse 2-58) and 101-5 (46 overs) (Kyle Corbin 52 not out, Shacaya Thomas 21, Kavem Hodge 14; Ashley Nurse 2-32, Sulieman Benn 2-36).
Barbados 356-9 declared (148.1 overs) (Kirk Edwards 109, Kraigg Brathwaite 91, Carlos Brathwaite 42, Shane Dowrich 39, Rashidi Boucher 29, Ashley Nurse 16; Ryan Austin 3-86, Raymon Reifer 2-54, Jomel Warrican 2-57, Akeem Dewar 2-102).
At Kensington Oval: March 21, 22, 23. Barbados won by an innings and 160 runs.
Barbados 479-8 declared (124.5 overs) (Ashley Nurse 130 not out, Carlos Brathwaite 109, Omar Phillips 67, Shane Dowrich 53, Jonathan Carter 45, Kirk Edwards 41, Roston Chase 12; Shannon Gabriel 4-69, Jason Mohammed 2-61, Imran Khan 2-132).
Trinidad & Tobago 120 all out (37 overs) (Jason Mohammed 43, Rayad Emrit 25 not out, Adrian Barath 20; Sulieman Benn 4-31, Carlos Brathwaite 3-15, Ashley Nurse 2-27) and 199 all out (67.5 overs) (Evin Lewis 51, Rayad Emrit 30, Adrian Barath 26, Steven Katwaroo 25, Darren Bravo 19, Jonathan Augustus 14, Imran Khan 11; Ashley Nurse 4-64, Sulieman Benn 4-66).
At Sabina Park: March 28, 29, 30, 31. Barbados won by 245 runs.
Barbados 423 all out (142.3 overs) (Kirk Edwards 105, Shane Dowrich 102, Jason Holder 46, Ashley Nurse 40, Carlos Brathwaite 36, Kraigg Brathwaite 29, Jonathan Carter 22, Roston Chase 13; Nikita Miller 4-95, Tamar Lambert 2-42) and 162-2 declared (46 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 91, Omar Phillips 48, Kirk Edwards 21 not out).
Jamaica 204 all out (84.2 overs) (Jermaine Blackwood 64, Nkrumah Bonner 50, John-Ross Campbell 31, John Campbell 21, Carlton Baugh 20; Ashley Nurse 4-63, Jonathan Carter 2-15, Carlos Brathwaite 2-23) and 136 all out (85.5 overs) (Jamie Merchant 37, Nkrumah Bonner 15, Nikita Miller 15, Tamar Lambert 11; Sulieman Benn 3-30, Ashley Nurse 3-40, Carlos Brathwaite 2-9, Jason Holder 2-16).
At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua: April 11, 12 13. Barbados won by an innings and 49 runs.
Leeward Islands 94 all out (34.4 overs) (Devon Thomas 30, Kieran Powell 16, Yannick Leonard 15, Jaison Peters 14; Ashley Nurse 4-24, Jonathan Carter 2-8, Sulieman Benn 2-9) and 183 all out (55.5 overs) (Devon Thomas 60, Kieran Powell 31, Jahmar Hamilton 29, Orlando Peters 17, Jaison Peters 15; Fidel Edwards 4-24, Ashley Nurse 3-94, Sulieman Benn 2-52).
Barbados 326 all out (125.3 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 92, Omar Phillips 79, Jonathan Carter 39, Shai Hope 29, Ashley Nurse 26 not out, Kirk Edwards 23, Carlos Brathwaite 20; Anthony Martin 5-78, Kelbert Walters 2-64, Jacques Taylor 2-76).
SEMI-FINALS
At Kensington Oval: April 19, 20, 21, 22. Jamaica won by 1 wicket.
Barbados 245 all out (77.3 overs) (Shane Dowrich 69 not out, Ashley Nurse 45, Omar Phillips 33, Shai Hope 28, Kraigg Brathwaite 15, Jonathan Carter 15, Kevin Stoute 11; Sheldon Cottrell 3-28, Damion Jacobs 3-58, David Bernard 2-32) and 223 all out (69.3 overs) (Jonathan Carter 111, Kraigg Brathwaite 32, Shai Hope 22, Shane Dowrich 20; Jerome Taylor 3-37, Nikita Miller 3-52, Sheldon Cottrell 2-31, Damion Jacobs 2-50).
Jamaica 302 all out (93 overs) (Tamar Lambert 121, David Bernard 42, Jermaine Blackwood 37, John Campbell 31, Nkrumah Bonner 26, Damion Jacobs 21, Carlton Baugh 10; Sulieman Benn 5-102, Ashley Nurse 2-47, Fidel Edwards 2-58) and 167-9 (57 overs) (Jermaine Blackwood 64, Andre McCarthy 43, David Bernard 14 not out, Jerome Taylor 12, John Campbell 10, Tamar Lambert 10; Kevin Stoute 5-29, Sulieman Benn 3-78).
Keith Holder is a veteran, award-winning freelance sports journalist, who has been covering local, regional and International cricket since 1980 as a writer and commentator. He has compiled statistics on the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Division 1 (now Elite) Championship for over three-and-a-half decades and is responsible for editing the BCA website (www.bcacricket.org). Email: [email protected]
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