Drakes hundred punishes Sir Wes Hall XI

Jonathan Drakes smashed an enterprising century for title favourites Sir Garfield Sobers XI in a crushing 152-run win over Sir Wesley Hall XI in the fourth match of the Barbados Cricket Legends 50-over Cup at Kensington Oval on Tuesday.

Entering the contest at number three, Drakes scored a pulsating 163 off 130 balls with 17 fours and half-dozen sixes as the Sir Garfield side amassed 355 for seven off 50 overs – the highest total in the tournament – after winning the toss.

Opener Zachary McCaskie stroked 57 off 81 balls while West Indies batting star, Shai Hope, chipped in with 33 to extend the form which has seen him plunder two hundreds in the competition to date.

Pacer Akeem Jordan took two for 40, medium-pacer and captain Jonathan Carter, two for 47 and fast bowler Miguel Cummins, two for 59.

In reply, the Sir Wesley Hall XI were dismissed for 203 in the 34th over with opener Rashidi Boucher hitting the top score of 37 off 41 deliveries and all-rounder Justin Greaves striking 35 off 25 balls.

Barbados wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott chipped in with 25 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse got a start with 23.

Pace bowling all-rounder Nyeem Young took three for 21, left-arm spinner Chad Williams snatched three for 28 while fast bowler Jair McAllister finished with two for 38.

Opting to bat first, the Sir Garfield Sobers XI were set back when left-hander Anthony Alleyne lost his off-stump to Jordan for 11 with the score on 28 in the ninth over.

However, Drakes set about dominating the opposition bowling, inspiring three successive partnerships over fifty which put his side in command of the contest.

First, he featured in a second wicket partnership of 121 in 22 overs with McCaskie, added a further 65 for the third wicket with Hope before anchoring a fourth wicket stand of 62 with Roshon Primus who made 23.

McCaskie fell in the 31st over when he holed out in the deep off Carter while Hope, who struck a couple of fours and sixes, perished in the 39th over, feathering a catch behind off Jordan.

Drakes raised triple figures in the 38th over with a swept boundary off Nurse and reached 150 in the 46th by working pacer Shamar Springer into the onside for a single.

His demise came in the next over when taken in the deep off seamer Miguel Cummins with the Sir Garfield Sobers XI hunting quick runs.

Facing a tall order in their run chase, the Sir Wesley Hall XI stumbled early when Kyle Hope fell cheaply in the fourth over for 10, caught at the wicket by his younger brother off McAllister with only 19 runs on the board.

However, Walcott and Boucher then combined in a 53-run, second wicket stand  of just 34 deliveries to stitch up the innings and deny the Sir Garry Sobers XI any immediate further success.

When Walcott, who belted four fours and a six in a 16-ball cameo, departed at the end of the eighth over, it triggered a slide that saw four wickets tumble for 26 runs, leaving the innings in trouble on 98 for five in the 14th over.

Greaves chanced his hand to lash three fours and two sixes in a 25-ball knock while Nurse belted three fours and a six in an 18-ball stay but the efforts came too late. (BT/BCA)