More success for Barbados and Brathwaite

As the Barbados Pride team celebrate their retention of the regional first-class Championship, it must be a special feeling for Kraigg Brathwaite in what he has achieved as captain apart from his exceptional batting.

Of Barbados’ record 24 titles in the four-day Tournament since 1966, opener Brathwaite has now joined Courtney Browne in leading the side to silverware on three occasions behind the late David Holford, who won five Cups as captain.

Holford was at the helm in 1972, 1974, 1976 (shared with Trinidad & Tobago), 1977 and 1979. He shared the captaincy with Lawrence Maxwell in 1979.

Browne was in charge in 1995, 2003 and 2004.

Apart from the last two Championships, Brathwaite’s other success as captain was in 2014.

In the just concluded Tournament, the 29-year-old West Indies Test captain amassed the most runs (584) as well as the most centuries (three) at an average of 83.42. He was also the only player with over 500 runs.

His highest score was a career-best 276 (604 minutes, 407 balls, 18 fours) in the second round against Jamaica at Kensington Oval. It was his third double-century at the first-class level.

Brathwaite now has 28 first-class centuries including 13 in the regional Championship.

As far as other significant performances for Barbados this season were concerned, all-rounder Raymon Reifer scored 345 runs including three half-centuries (ave: 49.28) and took nine wickets (ave: 14.44) to top the team’s bowling averages.

Reifer has been rewarded by being named in the West Indies squad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Antigua, starting June 16.

Other batters with over 100 runs were: Jonathan Carter 238 (ave: 39.66), Shane Dowrich 194 (ave: 27.71), Shayne Moseley 150 (ave: 21.42), Shai Hope 124 (ave: 62.00) and Roston Chase 112 (ave: 28.00).

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was the team’s leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps (ave: 25.84).

Ramon Simmonds, a 20-year-old left-arm pacer in his first season, took 12 wickets (ave: 18.08).

Seamer Akeem Jordan also picked up 12 (ave: 18.66) after making his four-day debut this season as well.

Medium-pacer Justin Greaves took seven (ave: 20.00), fast bowler Keon Harding, also seven (ave: 41.28), off-spinner Chase six (ave: 22.00) and Carter five (ave: 23.20).

FINAL POINTS

Barbados 76.2, Leeward Islands 72.6, Guyana 61.8, Trinidad & Tobago 54.2, Jamaica 43.8, Windward Islands 26.8.

Following are the champion Barbados teams (with matches) and seasons under the captaincy of Brathwaite:

2022 – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Jomel Warrican (five), Ramon Simmonds (four), Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeem Jordan, Keon Harding (three), Shamarh Brooks, Shamar Springer, Miguel Cummins (two), Chemar Holder, Chaim Holder, Shai Hope (one).

2020 – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shayne Moseley, Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Chemar Holder (eight), Shane Dowrich, Keon Harding (seven), Ashley Nurse, Jomel Warrican (six), Jonathan Carter, Kevin Stoute, Kemar Roach (five), Justin Greaves (four), Tevyn Walcott (two), Camarie Boyce, Jason Holder (one).

2014 – 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 and results of the Barbados matches this season:

At Kensington Oval: February 9, 10, 11, 12. Barbados won by 4 wickets.

Leeward Islands 172/9 declared (53.3 overs) (Devon Thomas 58, Kieran Powell 43, Jahmar Hamilton 29, Keacy Carty 20; Keon Harding 4-42, Jonathan Carter 2-9) and 346 (109.2 overs) (Devon Thomas 112 – 140 balls, 17 fours; Keacy Carty 55, Jahmar Hamilton 47, Jeremiah Louis 44, Kieran Powell 27, Terrence Warde 12, Nino Henry 12 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 10; Ramon Simmonds 4-64, Kraigg Brathwaite 2-7, Keon Harding 2-69).

Barbados 324 (113.2 overs) (Shamar Springer 91, Shane Dowrich 86, Kraigg Brathwaite 29, Jonathan Carter 25, Raymon Reifer 23, Chemar Holder 22, Shayne Moseley 13; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-99, Colin Archibald 3-47, Terrence Warde 2-42) and 195/6 (54.2 overs) (Jonathan Carter 71 not out, Raymon Reifer 45, Kraigg Brathwaite 29, Keon Harding 23 not out; Jeremiah Louis 4-50, Rahkeem Cornwall 2-69).

Toss: Barbados.

Player Of The Match: Jonathan Carter.

Captains: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jahmar Hamilton.

Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite, Jonathan Blades. Reserve: Leslie Reifer Jr.

Match Referee: Stephen Proverbs.

Points: Barbados 21, Leeward Islands 3.6

At Kensington Oval: February 15, 16, 17, 18. Barbados won by 10 wickets.

Jamaica 328 (95.4 overs) (John Campbell 127 – 228 balls, 12 fours, 1 six; Paul Palmer 76, Nkrumah Bonner 49, Leroy Lugg 39, Jamie Merchant 12; Raymon Reifer 6-23) and 233 (86 overs)(Jermaine Blackwood 61, Jamie Merchant 47, Nkrumah Bonner 37, Paul Palmer 33, Alwyn Williams 17, John Campbell 16, Leroy Lugg 10; Jomel Warrican 6-78, Chaim Holder 2-85).

Barbados 521/8 declared (149 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 276 – 407 balls, 18 fours; Raymon Reifer 71, Jonathan Carter 68, Shamarh Brooks 39, Shane Dowrich 26; Patrick Harty 5-111) and 42/0 (9.4 overs) (Shayne Moseley 34 not out).

Toss: Jamaica.

Player Of The Match: Kraigg Brathwaite.

Captains: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell.

Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite, Jonathan Blades. Reserve: Ryan Willoughby.

Match Referee: Stephen Proverbs.

Points: Barbados 21, Jamaica 4.4

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad: May 18, 19, 20, 21. Guyana won by 5 wickets.

Guyana 490/7 declared (157.4 overs) (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 140 – 434 balls, 14 fours; Gudakesh Motie 110 – 118 balls, 12 fours, 4 sixes; Tevin Imlach 53, Anthony Bramble 38 retired hurt, Leon Johnson 37, Veerasammy Permaul 34, Nial Smith 28 not out, Chandrapaul Hemraj 19, Akshaya Persaud 13; Akeem Jordan 3-108, Raymon Reifer 2-37) and 71/5 (12 overs) (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 23 not out, Leon Johnson 14 not out, Keemo Paul 10; Akeem Jordan 4-31).

Barbados 266 (84.4 overs) (Shai Hope 119 – 199 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes; Shane Dowrich 44, Raymon Reifer 29, Kraigg Brathwaite 17, Shayne Moseley 17, Roston Chase 10; Veerasammy Permaul 4-81, Gudakesh Motie 2-37, Keemo Paul 2-43) and 291 (93.5 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 111 – 242 balls, 16 fours; Shayne Moseley 48, Raymon Reifer 27, Shane Dowrich 24, Keon Harding 18 not out, Roston Chase 15, Shamarh Brooks 13, Jomel Warrican 10; Keemo Paul 4-90, Nial Smith 3-76, Gudakesh Motie 2-35).

Toss: Guyana.

Player Of The Match: Gudakesh Motie.

Captains: Kraigg Brathwaite, Leon Johnson.

Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Patrick Gustard. Reserve: Kellman Kowlessar.

Match Referee: Denavon Hayles.

Points: Guyana 20, Barbados 5.2

At Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad: May 25, 26, 27. Barbados won by an innings and 22 runs.

Trinidad & Tobago 133 (54.2 overs) (Imran Khan 29, Terrance Hinds 25, Joshua Da Silva 23, Yannic Cariah 13, Jason Mohammed 12; Jomel Warrican 3-21, Akeem Jordan 2-17, Ramon Simmonds 2-24, Justin Greaves 2-26) and 139 (53.2 overs) (Yannic Cariah 35 not out, Keagan Simmons 31, Jeremy Solozano 14, Joshua Da Silva 14, Jason Mohammed 10; Roston Chase 3-26, Justin Greaves 3-27, Akeem Jordan 3-32).

Barbados 294 (91.5 overs) (Raymon Reifer 79, Justin Greaves 50, Jonathan Carter 41, Akeem Jordan 31, Roston Chase 28, Shayne Moseley 24; Terrance Hinds 5-32, Imran Khan 2-60).

Toss: Trinidad & Tobago.

Player Of The Match: Justin Greaves.

Captains: Kraigg Brathwaite, Imran Khan.

Umpires: Danesh Ramdhanie, Zahid Bassarath. Reserve: Lyndon Rajkumar.

Match Referee: Michael Ragoonath.

Points: Barbados 19.8, Trinidad & Tobago 4.2

At Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin, Trinidad: June 1, 2, 3, 4. Match drawn.

Windward Islands 203 (62 overs) (Teddy Bishop 44, Larry Edward 37, Kavem Hodge 28, Denis Smith 17, Preston McSween 17, Ackeem Auguste 16, Ryan John 13, Devon Smith 11; Ramon Simmonds 3-25, Roston Chase 3-46, Miguel Cummins 2-32).

Barbados 285/6 (80 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 109 – 219 balls, 14 fours; Raymon Reifer 71, Roston Chase 59, Jonathan Carter 21; Larry Edward 2-27, Ryan John 2-41, Darius Martin 2-78).

Toss: Windward Islands.

Player Of The Match: Roston Chase.

Captains: Kraigg Brathwaite, Kavem Hodge.

Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Patrick Gustard. Reserve: Kashif Sandy.

Match Referee: Stephen Proverbs.

Points: Barbados 9.2, Windward Islands 5.8

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 (rebranded Elite in 2012) Championship for four decades and provides statistics and stories for the BCA website (www.barbadoscricket.org). Email: Keithfholder@gmail.com