Windwards hold off Barbados

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada- Barbados gained first innings points but were unable to complete victory after trying to make a game of it on the final day of the Carib Beer Series match against Windward Islands at the Tanteen Recreation Ground on Monday.{{more}}

After dismissing the hosts for 241 shortly after lunch to gain a first innings lead of 124, Barbados opened up the match by declaring their second innings at tea on 109 for four.

Set a target of 234 in 38 overs, the Windwards held on to be 82 for five when the match was called off at 5:50 p.m. with three overs remaining.

On a day in which just over an hour was lost because of rain, 16 wickets fell for 245 runs and in the process, it transformed a potential tame draw into an interesting finish.

Windwards, resuming their first innings on 182 for three in response to Barbados’ 365, lost their last seven wickets for 53 runs when they were expected to mount more of a challenge for the lead.

After play was delayed by 40 minutes at the start, Windwards were undermined mainly by off-spinner Ryan Austin and left-arm fast medium Ian Bradshaw who did the bulk of the bowling in the pre-lunch session.

Austin added to his two wickets the previous evening by claiming the first two wickets on of the day. The first was left-handed Sergio Fedee and the experienced Junior Murray fell cheaply when he was caught at mid-wicket attempting an irresponsible swing.

Austin finished with four for 99 off 35 overs, while the probing Bradshaw had two for 17 from 18 overs including the wicket of top-scorer Craig Emmanuel for 60. Pacer Tino Best, with two for 44, assisted at the end of the innings.

Barbados then scored at close to five runs an over and surprised some by declaring their second innings at tea.

They lost their first four wickets for 56 when most of the batsmen gifted their wickets, but captain Ryan Hinds (39) and Patrick Browne (11) halted the slide with an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 53.

Windwards captain Rawle Lewis, who took six wickets in the first innings, collected another two in the second to win the Man-of-the-Match award.

Windwards never went after the target, but lost wickets at regular intervals, slipping to 52 for five before Murray (29) and Darren Sammy (15) survived the last 50 minutes.

Barbados next meet Jamaica at the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies from January 13 to 16, while the Windwards’ next match is against Leeward Islands at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia from January 20 to 23.