Batsmen fail to fire as Barbados go down to Leeward Islands
by Randy Bennett
Justin Greaves scored an unbeaten 95 and another lacklustre batting performance by the Barbados Pride saw them slump to a four-wicket defeat under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes when the CG United Super50 Cup continued on Thursday.
Two days after posting their highest total of the tournament, Barbados’ batsmen failed to fire and were dismissed for 196 in 41.2 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
Captain Shai Hope, who top scored with 55 from 76 balls and Roston Chase, who made 45 off 58 balls, were the only recognized batsmen who put up any resistance.
Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the Hurricanes’ bowlers with 3-34 from his nine overs, while leg spinner Haydn Walsh took 3-43 and speedster Oshane Thomas 2-35.
Set 192 to win in 42 overs, Hurricanes made a meal of a straightforward run chase before sneaking home at 192-6 to win with 11 balls to spare.
They were led by Greaves, who finished five runs short of a well-deserved century after facing 120 balls and hitting nine boundaries and one six.
Chase took 4-34 to be the Pride’s best bowler.
The result helped the Hurricanes to leapfrog Barbados into second place in the standings and solidify their bid for a spot in the semifinals.
Earlier, after winning the toss and sending Barbados in to bat, the Hurricanes quickly found themselves in control of the contest.
Joseph accounted for opener Kraigg Brathwaite, whose wretched form continued when he was dismissed for just two, and Shamarh Brooks for five, while Thomas snagged Zachary McCaskie for four to leave Barbados in trouble at 19-3 in the fifth over.
Hope and Chase then combined in an 85-run partnership for the fourth wicket to help them recover to 104-3 in the 22nd over.
But once Chase was dismissed by Daniel Doram after striking five boundaries, Barbados’ middle order collapsed.
Hope, who stroked four boundaries and one six, added 34 for the fifth wicket with Roshon Primus, but once Thomas returned to the attack to dismiss Hope, Barbados lost its momentum.
Primus made 28 from 30 balls and Jomel Warrican 16 from 17, but the Pride lost their last seven wickets for 92 runs.
Rain then saw the match reduced to 42 overs, and Barbados made an almost perfect start when Akeem Jordan had Kieran Powell caught at backward square leg by Chase with the second ball of the innings to leave the Hurricanes 4-1.
Greaves then dominated a 59-run partnership with Keacy Carty (18) to stabilize the innings.
Barbados found themselves back in the game when Chase accounted for Carty and Jahmar Hamilton, who made 10, to leave the game evenly poised at 77-3.
But Greaves found a steady partner in Terrence Warde, who made a patient 22 from 38 balls, and the two added a further 65 runs to tilt the balance back in the Hurricanes’ favour.
From 142-3 they lost the wickets of Warde, Jewel Andrew (5) and Joseph for 7, to slump to 152-5 in the 36th over.
Walsh put the contest to bed, however, smashing a cameo 21 from nine balls with two fours and one six to take the Hurricanes over the line.
