Barbados mint four-day regional cricket title

Barbados lifted the Headley/Weekes trophy, the symbol of supremacy in the regional four-day West Indies Cricket Board cricket series, after defeating old foes Trinidad and Tobago, by an innings and 22 runs, last Saturday, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.{{more}}

However, it was a feat that both the late George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes, one of Barbados’ living national heroes, would not have been too pleased with.

The two batsmen, of the highest order in their day, would have been irked, as the match ended within three days of its four-day schedule.

Trinidad and Tobago were always chasing in the match, after they were blown away for 110, batting first on Thursday.

The Trinis were rocked back by fast bowler Miguel Cummins, who bagged 5 for 30; Sulieman Benn got 2 for 13 and Kemar Roach – 2 for 35. Rayad Emrit, with 34, was Trinidad and Tobago’s main contributor with the bat.

Barbados on the back of 122 from top order batsman Kraigg Braithwaite, saw them to 369 all out, a lead of 259.

Braithwaite’s marathon knock spanned seven hours, during which he faced 303 balls and hit nine boundaries.

Also propping up the Barbadians’ total, in which all batsmen hit at least one boundary, there were useful contributions from Kirk Edwards – 48; Jonathan Carter – 47 and Rashid Boucher – 48.

Marlon Richards with 4 for 55, Iran Khan – 2 for 84, and Shannon Gabriel – 2 for 99, shared most of the wickets that fell.

Trinidad and Tobago, batting a second time, were dismissed for 237.

Lendl Simmons struck 140, which included 12 fours and 8 sixes, as he brought the fight to the Barbadian pace and spin attack.

However, not many of the other batsmen came to the party, except Steven Katwaroo with 34, as Trinidad and Tobago fell short of the deficit by 22 runs.

Player of the match – Miguel Cummins, snared 4 for 75 and Javon Searles picked 3 for 31, to hand Barbados their 21st regional and their first in six years.

Cummins ended the competition with 35 scalps from eight matches, the most by a fast bowler.

He was fourth in the tally of wickets, trailing Nikita Miller of Jamaica and Shane Shillingford of the Windwards, who both got 52 and Ashley Nurse of Barbados, who picked up 40 .

It was an up and down season for both Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The newly crowned champion in the preliminary round won four matches and lost two, while beaten finalist Trinidad and Tobago won three and lost three.

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago finished third and fourth respectively, behind Jamaica, and the Windwards in that order in the preliminary round, and thus earned places in the semi-final.

In the semi-finals, Barbados overcame the Windwards by an innings and 101 runs, and Trinidad and Tobago upstaged Jamaica by three wickets, who were seeking a sixth straight lien on the title.(RT)