Pressure on Barbados to beat West Indies Academy

Going into the seventh and final round of the regional first-class Championship, four teams were in line to grab the coveted title.

The points table showed: Windward Islands Volcanoes 90, Barbados Pride 87.6, Guyana Harpy Eagles 87.2, Leeward Islands Hurricanes 84.6, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 72.8, Jamaica Scorpions 57, West Indies Academy 54.2, Combined Campuses & Colleges 26.6.

In the circumstances, great attention was on the following matches – Windwards vs Leewards at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad; Barbados vs West Indies Academy at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua and defending champions Guyana vs CCC at Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Trinidad.

Outright victories were unquestionably the objectives for the top four teams, apart from seeking batting and bowling points, as well as pace bowling points. It must be emphasised that “bonus points are awarded only for performances in the first 110 overs of each first innings and retained whatever the result of the match”.

Another key factor is the awarding of pace bowling points. It states: For each wicket taken by a pace bowler during the match (both first and second innings), 0.2 points will be awarded to the fielding team and will be retained whatever the outcome of the match (see breakdown of points system later in this column).

Recognising the pros and cons before the start of the final round, it was generally felt that the luck of the toss could be crucial.

From a batting perspective, Barbados suffered a dent on the opening day. After winning the toss, they were bowled out for 155 in 39.5 overs.

There have been arguments in some quarters that Barbados should have bowled first with the hope of dismissing West Indies Academy for a small total and then seek to control the game with solid batting.

Call that hindsight. Bottom line is that Barbados batted and for the third time this season failed to gain batting points.

They then desperately depended on their pacers to hit back and to such an extent that they used five before turning to spin after 60 overs with the score 237 for nine. West Indies Cricket Academy were bowled out for 243 in 61.3 overs with all of the wickets taken by pacers.

Rain badly affected play today but the Barbados batsmen did not accelerate as was expected in the last session. The approach was baffling with only 54 runs scored off 23.5 overs.

At stumps, they were 228 for five in the second innings – an overall lead of 140.

Barbados must now win on tomorrow’s final day if they are to stand a chance of capturing the title following an eight-wicket victory by Guyana today.

Summarised scores: CCC 200 and 203. Guyana 223 and 182-2.

And despite an encouraging start by Windward Islands in pursuit of 416 to win – they closed on 112 for one – a Leeward Islands victory is expected.

Scores: Leeward Islands 300 and 294. Windward Islands 179 and 112/1.

According to the Points System, Completed Match Points – Outright win: 12 + batting + bowling points earned.

Tie: 6 points each team + batting + bowling points

No outright winner: 3 points + batting and bowling points

Incomplete Match Points

No outright winner 3 points + batting and bowling points

Abandoned Match

In the event of a match being abandoned without any play having taken place one (1) point each.

Referee awarding Match Points: Team Match Awarded to 12

Bonus Points

Bonus Points awarded only for performances in the first 110 overs of each first innings and retained whatever the result of the match.

• A maximum of five batting points to be available as under:
  250 to 299 runs – 2 points; 300 to 349 runs – 3 points; 350 to 399 runs – 4 points; 400 to 449 runs – 5 points.
• A maximum of three bowling points to be available as under:
  3 to 5 wickets taken – 1 point; 6 to 8 wickets taken – 2 points; 9 to 10 wickets taken – 3 points.

For the avoidance of doubt, “wickets taken” shall relate exclusively to batters dismissed under Laws 32 to 40 inclusive and to batters retired out.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which at that time had faced less than 110 overs in their first innings, or completed their first innings before they had faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will be considered as counting towards the total as far as award of bonus points is concerned.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which had already faced 110 overs or more in their first innings, or had previously completed their first innings after they faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will not be considered as counting towards the total as far as the award of bonus points is concerned.

Pace Bowling Points

For each wicket taken by a pace bowler during the match (both first and second innings), 0.2 points will be awarded to the fielding team and will be retained whatever the outcome of the match.

Each team must declare its pace bowlers to the Match Referee on the team sheet at the toss. Points will only be awarded to those wickets taken by pace bowlers who have been declared on the team sheet at the toss.

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 over four decades and provides statistics and stories for the BCA website (www.barbadoscricket.org).
Email: Keithfholder@gmail.com