Pride overwhelms Volcanoes with spin and power

Off spinner Kemar Smith and Kraigg Brathwaite played major roles as Barbados Pride cruised to a seven-wicket win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes, their second successive victory in the CG United Super50 Cup here on Sunday.

Smith ran through the Volcanoes’ top and middle order and sparked a spectacular collapse that saw them capitulate from 104 for two, to be all out for 137 in 37.2 overs.

Brathwaite, the former West Indies Test captain, then scored an unbeaten half century as Barbados sped to 138 for three in just 24.1 overs.

The Volcanoes were given a good start by openers Johann Jeremiah and Stephan Pascal, who added 58 runs for the first wicket.

And even when Smith and skipper Kyle Mayers removed Pascal for 22 and Jeremiah for 26, respectively, Teddy Bishop and Sunil Ambris put their side in a comfortable position at 104 for two, during a 44-run partnership.

However, once Javed Leacock dismissed Ambris for 20, the Hurricanes’ innings went up in smoke.

Smith trapped Bishop lbw for 28 and accounted for the wicket of Darron Nedd in the same fashion, while pacer Dominic Drakes bowled Dillon Douglas for two, to leave the score 133 for six.

Smith also claimed the wickets of Shadrack Descarte and Kenneth Dember to end with figures of 5-25 from his 10 overs, while Leacock supported with 2-22.

The Pride got off to a horrible start, losing openers Leniko Boucher and Mayers to slip to seven for two.

But Zachary McCaskie and Brathwaite made sure there would be no comeback by the Volcanoes, as they took the momentum away from their opponents during a 104-run partnership that essentially decided the outcome.

McCaskie was eventually dismissed by Dember, three runs short of a well-deserved half century, after facing 57 balls and striking four fours and one six.

Brathwaite was not to be denied, though, as he finished on 59 not out off 64 deliveries, inclusive of six fours, and together with Kevin Wickham, comfortably guided Barbados to a predictable win.

Meanwhile, the match between the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Jamaica Scorpions was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy showers.

(CMC)